(Dan Tri) – Russian officials today said the country aims to launch mass production of a Covid-19 vaccine next August and produce several million doses per month in early 2021.
(Illustration photo: Reuters)
AFP news agency today quoted Russian officials as saying that the country has promoted several vaccine prototypes and one tested by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow has advanced to advanced stages of development and is expected to receive certification.
“We are looking forward to the start of mass production next September,” Russian Industry Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview published by TASS news agency.
“We will be able to ensure production of several hundred thousand vaccines a month, and eventually increase it to several million doses early next year,” Mr. Manturov said, adding that a developer is preparing
The head of the Russian Development Investment Fund (RDIF), which funded the trials, said he hoped the official licensing of the vaccine would be completed within the next 10 days.
“If this happens within the next 10 days, we will be ahead of not only the US but also other countries.
Another vaccine, developed by the Vektor laboratory in Siberia, is currently undergoing clinical trials and two others will begin human trials within the next two months, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
Gamaleya Institute’s vaccine is based on the adenovirus group of respiratory viruses and uses DNA technology, similar to the Covid-19 vaccine prototype developed by CanSino company in China, currently in the clinical trial stage.
However, the Gamaleya Institute also faced criticism after researchers and directors volunteered to receive the experimental vaccine a few months ago.
Vitaly Zverev, laboratory director at the Mechnikov Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, believes it is too early to register a vaccine.
“I believe that a vaccine that is not properly tested should not be allowed to be registered, regardless of the country.
Mr. Zverev said that the three companies considered to be future manufacturers of Russian vaccines are famous pharmaceutical companies that usually do not produce vaccines, let alone high-tech companies that use technology.
“No adenovirus-based vaccine has shown efficacy before.
A total of more than 100 vaccine candidates are being developed around the world to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 4 types of vaccines are in phase 3 human trials, of which 3 are being developed in China and 1 in Russia.
Moscow has denied accusations from the UK, US and Canada that a group of hackers linked to Russian intelligence agencies tried to steal information about a Covid-19 vaccine from laboratories in the West.
Up to now, Russia has recorded more than 850,000 people infected with Covid-19, the 4th highest in the world after the US, Brazil and India.
Nick John