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Russia was the first in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine.
It already happened in August, long before the vaccine called Sputnik was tested.
RISK GROUP: A Russian healthcare worker receives one of two doses of the Sputnik vaccine.
Photo: TATYANA MAKEYEVA / Reuters
It is now in what is called phase three of the trial, and before long Russian health authorities will begin vaccinating large groups of the population.
Production is increased
– I think that in the next two weeks what is called mass vaccination will begin in the Moscow area, says the director Aleksandr Gintsburg of the Gamaleja Institute to the Tass news agency.
MANY DOSES: Three Russian production facilities are in the process of producing the Sputnik vaccine. And soon the fourth will begin.
Photo: Russian Fund for Direct Investment / Reuters
He notes that the production of the Sputnik vaccine is now increasing considerably. It is made in three different plants in Russia, and half a million doses will be shipped later this month. In December, the number will be three times higher, because a fourth production plant will be put into operation.
FIRST: The Gamaleja Institute in Moscow developed the Sputnik vaccine. Here it is shown by director Aleksandr Gintsburg.
Photo: TATYANA MAKEYEVA / Reuters
The Gamaleja Institute has developed the Sputnik vaccine. It is named after the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union around the world in 1957.
The choice of name likely shows that Russian authorities expect the vaccine to be a historic breakthrough on par with the satellite.
Read more: Russian Vaccine Expert: – Based on Political Motives
Preparing many vaccination sites
To date, Russian health authorities have vaccinated people at risk, especially health professionals and teachers.
MORE CORON VACCINES: In addition to Sputnik, Russia has registered a second vaccine. Number three will likely arrive by the end of the year.
Photo: Rospotrebnadzor / Reuters
But now, the state news agency Interfax reports that Moscow authorities are in the process of preparing many new vaccination sites where residents can stop by to get Sputnik.
The vaccine consists of two syringes that are taken at three-week intervals.
Health authorities say that Sputnik has not detected serious side effects.
Some of the subjects have had a mildly elevated fever immediately after the injections.
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Skepticism of early use
There are 40,000 people participating in the Sputnik trial in phase three. It is the last test and it takes place in Moscow.
BIG TEST: One of the 40,000 subjects participating in the Sputnik test in phase three receives one of two doses.
Photo: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP
To date, no preliminary phase three information has been provided on how effective and safe the vaccine is.
In the past, experts in other countries have been skeptical that Russian authorities have used Sputnik on vulnerable groups without having this data.
In recent weeks, there has been a clear increase in the number of new corona infections in Russia.
Today, a new record has been set with almost 22,000. Relative to the population of 145 million, it is still lower than in many European countries.
The Russian authorities state that it is not necessary to impose a new closure on the company. But the desire to start mass vaccination is great.
