Russian says the world’s first coronavirus vaccine will be distributed to patients as soon as next month after successful human trials in a Moscow university – By Enock Mukoma.
According to local media, the decision to involve the general public in vaccine trials was part of Russia’s desire to move ahead with its testing of the sought-after coronavirus vaccine.
The Kremlin has previously said the nation’s scientists are working on almost 50 different vaccine projects, while scientists have said developing a vaccine is “a question of national prestige.”
Though the race to develop a vaccine that would help the population develop herd immunity is in full swing around the world, recent research suggests that asymptomatic patients could have a weaker immune response to Covid-19 because their antibodies fade as early as two months after infection.
Russia confirmed 6,611 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, raising the country’s number of cases to 720,547.
188 people have died, bringing the total toll to 11,205.
Global coronavirus cases have exceeded 12.9 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, with 569,000 people known to have died from the virus. However, over 7.1 million are known to have recovered.
More than 230,000 new infections were reported to the World Health Organization on 12 July – a global one-day record.
