Germany: Health Minister optimistic of having COVID-19 vaccine in coming months

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said that he expects a registered COVID-19 vaccine in coming months and "definitely next year" as global vaccine race intensifies after Russian anuncement. Spahn’s forecast regarding vaccine echoed with a w-withdrawn report by Robert Koch Institute which predicted a vaccine by autumn.

"I'm optimistic that in next months, and certainly in next year, re can be a vaccine," minister told German public-service television brocaster ZDF.

However, Spahn declined to anunce a specific month, saying re are several factors that need to be analysed before making such a prediction. German minister said that re is it yet to be determined frequency of doses people would need to remain safe from infectious disease or how long immunity conferred by vaccine would last.

"But one thing we can say is that thanks to us all working toger - researchers, scientists, public - we will probably have a vaccine faster than ever before in history of humanity," he ded.

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Russia's vaccine

Russian  President Vlimir Putin anunced on August 11 that health ministry has approved world’s first coronavirus vaccine, becoming first country to grant regulatory approval after less than two months of human testing. Spahn was sceptical about safety and efficacy of vaccine, saying it didn’t through large-scale trials to provide sufficient data.

United States has also been sceptical over Russian vaccine as US Health Secretary Alex Azar told a news conference that it is more essential to have a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine than acing race. However, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has dismissed safety concerns and said it will be available within two weeks for some medics. 

On August 12, Murashko said that foreign colleagues are sensing specific competitive vants of Russian drug and are trying to express “completely groundless” doubts. minister ded that first doses of coronavirus vaccine will be provided within next two weeks, primarily for doctors.

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