[ad_1]
(CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered his government to start large-scale vaccines against COVID-19 starting next week.
Russia became the first country in the world to approve its coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, in August, authorizing the treatment for public use even before crucial phase 3 trials were carried out. The move drew criticism from circles. scientists.
On Wednesday, Putin, speaking during a televised government meeting, said Russia should begin a widespread vaccination effort.
“More than two million doses have been or will be produced in the coming days. The world’s first registered vaccine against coronavirus infection, Sputnik V, will reach this level of production. This allows us to start, if not massively – a large-scale vaccine, “said the Russian leader.
Putin added that the main focus should be the “vaccination of the two risk groups: doctors and teachers.”
He was addressing Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who is responsible for the country’s response to the coronavirus.
“If you think we are close to this step, I would ask you to organize the work so that by the end of next week we start this large-scale vaccination,” she told Golikova.
Golikova responded that Russia will be able to start large-scale vaccination in December. He reiterated that the first priority was to vaccinate doctors and teachers, but added that he was looking to vaccinate larger groups.
I would like to reiterate that it will obviously be voluntary, free for citizens and this week I hope … I am sure that we will finish all preparations to report that we are ready to start next week, “Golikova said during the meeting.
Putin replied: “Let’s agree that you will not only report, but start large-scale vaccination, okay?”
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Wednesday that to date more than 100,000 Russian citizens had already been vaccinated with Sputnik.
Murashko did not specify a breakdown of the 100,000 people, but phase 3 trials involving more than 40,000 volunteers are currently underway. More than 20,000 people have received their first dose of Sputnik V as part of the phase 3 trial, and 16,000 participants have received the second dose, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which funded the vaccine.
The vaccine’s developers have previously said that Sputnik-V was administered to a group of 10,000 volunteers from the “red zones” of Russian hospitals in September. In addition, the Russian military said last week that 2,500 military personnel had been vaccinated and that more would arrive by the end of the year.
The jab has already been administered to some front-line healthcare workers, teachers, and several high-level officials outside of clinical trials.
Putin’s order to step up the vaccination program comes after Britain on Wednesday became the first Western country to authorize the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
[ad_2]
