Putin announces official registration of first coronavirus vaccine and reveals one of his own daughters has already been inoculated – despite the jab not passing clinical trials
- Russia’s President made the announcement at a government meeting today
- He said the vaccine has proved efficient during tests and gives lasting immunity
- Putin claimed his daughter is feeling well after being administered the shot
Vladimir Putin claims Russia has a coronavirus vaccine and says one of his daughters has already had it – despite the jab not having passed clinical trials.
The Russian President made the bombshell announcement during a government meeting on Tuesday.
He claimed the vaccine has proven efficient during tests and that it offers lasting immunity from coronavirus – even though clinical trials have yet to be completed.
Putin, 67, also claimed that one of his two daughters has been given a shot and that she was feeling well.
He did not reveal whether it was Maria or Katerina who received the vaccine.
Putin has claimed that one of his two daughters has been inoculated
Russian authorities have said that medical workers, teachers and other risk groups will be the first to be inoculated.
Health workers treating Covid-19 patients will be offered the chance of volunteering to be vaccinated, it is believed.
The World Health Organization last week urged Russia to follow established guidelines and go ‘through all the stages’ necessary to develop a safe vaccine.
Many scientists in the country and abroad have been skeptical, questioning the decision to register the vaccine before Phase III trials have begun.
These trials usually last for months and involve thousands of people to ensure vaccine efficiency and safety.
Professor Duncan Matthews, Professor of IP Law at Queen Mary University of London said: ‘News of a potential Covid-19 vaccine is to be welcomed but safety must be the priority.
‘The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have fast-track approval procedures for emergency humanitarian use and we need to see evidence that Russia is adopting an equally prudent approach.’
Regulators around the world have insisted that the rush to develop COVID-19 vaccines will not compromise safety.
More than 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world and at least four are in final Phase III human trials, according to WHO data.