NEW YORK, July 12 (New York Times): A Russian health care regulator has become the first in the world to approve a vaccine for the coronavirus, President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday, though the vaccine has yet to complete clinical trials.
The Russian dash for a vaccine has already raised international concerns that Moscow is cutting corners on testing to score political and propaganda points. Last week, the World Health Organization warned Russia not to stray from the usual methods of testing a vaccine for safety and effectiveness.
Putin's announcement became essentially a claim of victory in the global race for a vaccine, something Russian officials have been telegraphing for several weeks despite the absence of published information about any late-phase testing.
"It works effectively enough, forms a stable immunity and, I repeat, it has gone through all necessary tests," Putin said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday morning. He thanked the scientists who developed the vaccine for "this first, very important step for our country, and generally for the whole world."
Western regulators have said repeatedly that they do not expect a vaccine to become widely available before the end of the year at the earliest. Regulatory approval in Russia, well ahead of that timeline, could become a symbol of national pride and provide a much needed political lift for Putin.
The Russian president has seen a steady decline in his popularity under the weight of the pandemic and a faltering economy.
The Russian vaccine, along with many others under development in a number of countries in the effort to alleviate a worldwide health crisis that has killed at least 734,900 people, sped through early monkey and human trials with apparent success.
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