Moscow: In some good news for millions living in hope for a Covid-19 vaccine shot, the Russian Health Ministry said on Tuesday that the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine has been produced for civilian circulation.
The supplies of the medication to the Russian regions are expected soon, the Health Ministry told reporters, reports Tass news agency.
“The first batch of the vaccine for preventing the novel coronavirus infection, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry passed the required quality tests and was produced for civilian circulation.
“In the near future, the supplies of the first batches of the vaccine to the regions are expected,” the ministry said.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko earlier explained that civilian production at this stage meant vaccination of citizens from the risk groups, mainly teachers and doctors.
Earlier this month, a study published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet said a Russian Covid-19 vaccine has shown no serious side effects and elicited an immune response in early human trials.
Russia last month registered the “Sputnik V”, becoming the first country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine.
On August 15, the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production.
The Lancet study’s authors also held that large, long-term trials, including a placebo comparison, and further monitoring are needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing Covid-19 infection.
The Indian government said late last month that New Delhi and Moscow are in communication regarding the Sputnik V vaccine.
