Russia has announced that it expects to increase production of its potential coronavirus vaccine to about 6 million doses a month, Reuters quoted a report by state-run news agency RIA.
Industry Minister Denis Manturov made the request on Sunday, discussing current production, which is expected to be between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month.
The call comes just days after President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had developed the first vaccine to combat COVID-19. Putin described the vaccine as “fairly effective.”
TRUMP TO THERAPEUTIALLY REVEAL KONONAVIRUS ‘BREAKTHROUGH’, WHERE PRESSS SECRETARY IS
Large-scale testing of the vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, will begin next week in Russia. Gamaleya developed the Sputnik V-vaccine with RDIF – the name that was taken as a not so subtle jab at America, listening back to the Sputnik satellite that Russia was able to set a trajectory for every American.
The vaccine has yet to go through ongoing tests that are normally required to prove it works before licensing, but Russia has decided to go ahead with a release of the vaccine.
Health officials and world leaders have criticized Russia for its haste and the early stages of clinical trials. The World Health Organization said a “strict review” and assessment of the vaccine was needed before the group could recommend use of the Russian vaccine, The Indian Express reported.
On Sunday, President Trump will also announce a potential therapy for treating the virus.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
The president will announce the development at 6 p.m., accompanied by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Dr. Stephen Hahn, head of the Food and Drug Administration, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany posted on Twitter on Saturday.
