World Health Organization Ready To Review Russian Vaccine Trials

By Nsunjo Erica

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it was looking forward to reviewing clinical trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed in Russia.

“WHO is in touch with Russian scientists and authorities, and looks forward to reviewing details of the trials,” the World Health Organization agency said in a statement.

The WHO added that they had been involved in guiding and accelerating research and development efforts since January, and now clinical trials are on the way.

According to the WHO, over 28 of more than 150 potential vaccines are currently being actively tested on humans, among which six have reached Phase 3, the final stage when candidate drugs are tested on large groups of people.

WHO said that accelerating vaccine research should be done following established processes through every step of development, to ensure that any vaccines that eventually go into production are both safe and effective?

The World Health Organization added that any safe and effective pandemic vaccine will be a global public good, and WHO urges rapid, fair and equitable access to any such vaccines worldwide

President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday 11th August 2020 that Russia has developed the first Covid-19 vaccine offering sustainable immunity against the virus.

Russia’s vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya research institute and the defense ministry, is among the 28 in clinical evaluation but is listed by the WHO as only being in Phase 1.

The development paves the way for the mass inoculation of the Russian population, even as the final stage of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continues.

About months back, US researchers also reported that their first COVID-19 vaccine tested boosted up people’s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped and that the shots are poised to begin key final testing.

The experimental vaccine, developed by Fauci’s colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., started its most important step around July 27: A 30,000-person study to prove if the shots are strong enough to protect against the virus.