Mass tests of the first possible Russian vaccine against Covid-19 disease begin next week and include more than 40,000 people to obtain approval from local regulatory authorities, and are conducted under the supervision of a foreign research body, supporters of the project said today.

These are the first details of the shape and size of the imminent final stage of the vaccine trial presented by its developers, who aim to calm some scientists’ fears about the lack of data that Russia has provided so far.

The authorities and scientists in Russia praised the vaccine, which was called Sputnik 5 after the first satellite in the world launched by the Soviet Union, describing it as safe and effective after two months of small-scale experiments on humans, whose results have not yet been announced.

But Western experts have doubts and warn against using it before passing all internationally approved tests and regulatory steps.

A group of countries are launching a media war against the Russian vaccine, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund that supports the vaccine, said in a press briefing.

He added that the vaccine data will be published in an academic journal later this month.

SOURCE : KUWAITOFFERINGS