MOSCOW : Russia on Tuesday become the first country to officially release a coronavirus vaccine with President Vladimir Putin saying, one of his daughters has been inoculated with the first dose.
At a government meeting in Moscow, Putin emphasized that the vaccine passed all necessary tests and has established a lasting immunity from coronavirus. One of his two adult daughters received two shots of the vaccine. “She has taken part in the experiment,” Putin said. The president said, his daughter developed a temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit on day one of the injection and then it dropped ot 98.6 F on the following day. After the second shot she again had a slight raise in temperature, but then it was all over, he said. “She’s feeling well and has high number of antibodies,” Putin added without specifying which of his two daughter - Maria or Katerina - received the vaccine.
Russian authorities said that medical workers, teachers and other high risk groups will be the first to be inoculated, an exercise that will begin soon. The vaccination will be voluntary, they added. According to the Health Ministry, the vaccine is expected to provide Covid-19 immunity for up to two years.
When the virus struck Russia, Putin ordered state officials to shorten the time of clinical trials for potential coronavirus vaccines. Human studies started June 17 among 76 volunteers. Half were administered liquid form of the vaccine and the other half in soluble powder form. Some in the first half were servicemen from the military.
The country is set to mass-produce the vaccine in September and general public are expected to be vaccinated as early as from October.
