Putin says Russia develops world's first vaccine against coronavirus

President Vlimir Putin on Tuesday anunced that Russia has developed world's first vaccine against COVID-19 that works "quite effectively" and forms a "stable immunity" against disease as he disclosed that one of his daughters has alrey been vaccinated.

"A vaccine against coronavirus has been registered for first time in world this morning," Putin said during a meeting with members of his government.

"I kw that it works quite effectively, it forms a stable immunity," official Tass news ncy quoted Putin as saying.

Putin's claim has come amidst concerns raised by experts about speed of Russia's work, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners.

Amid fears that safety could have been compromised, World Health Organization (WHO) urged Russia last week to follow international guidelines for producing a vaccine against COVID-19, BBC reported.

Russian vaccine is t among WHO's list of six vaccines that have reached phase three clinical trials, which involve more widespre testing in humans, report ted.

Putin said that one of his daughters h tested a Russian COVID-19 vaccine on herself and that she is feeling well. He said that first Russian COVID-19 vaccine forms stable cell and antibody immunity.

"I kw this very well, because one of my daughters got vaccinated, so in this sense, she took part in testing," Putin said.

vaccine has been named Sputnik-V. name is a reference to surprise 1957 launch of world's first satellite by Soviet Union.

treatment is yet to go through crucial Phase 3 trials where it would be ministered to thousands of people.

President Putin ted that after first vaccine shot, his daughter h a 38°C fever, and on next day, a fever slightly higher than 37°C.

"And n, after second shot, she h a slight fever again, and n everything was fine, she is feeling well and has a high [antibody] count," Putin said.

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said that clinical trials of vaccine developed by Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of Russian Healthcare Ministry were over.

Medical workers and teachers will be first to get COVID-19 vaccine, he said.

"We will begin st-by-st civilian use of vaccine. First and foremost, we would like to offer vaccination to those who come into contact with infected persons at work. se are medical workers. And also those who are responsible for children’s health - teachers," minister said.

vaccine has two separately-injected components that toger are expected to build a long-term immunity against virus, Sputniknews reported.

Clinical trials of vaccine kicked off on June 18 and included 38 volunteers. All of participants developed immunity. first group was discharged on July 15, second group on July 20.

It will appear in circulation starting on January 1, 2021, website of State Register of Pharmaceuticals reported on Tuesday.

"Date of introduction to civilian circulation - 01.01.2021," site ted.

It h been reported that Gamaleya centre has developed two forms of vaccine - a liquid and a freeze-dried one.

Health Minister Murashko said that vaccine against coronavirus infection will be produced in Russia on two sites.

Russia has received a request for production of one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine from 20 states, he of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev said during an online conference.

"We have received preliminary requests for purchase of over 1 bln doses of vaccine from 20 states. We are rey to ensure production of over 500 mln vaccine doses along with our foreign partners in five countries, and we plan to increase our production capacity furr," he said.

According to Dmitriev, several Latin American, Middle Eastern and Asian states have expressed an interest in purchasing Russian vaccine. Several contracts have been finalised.

He ted that RDIF h agreed to hold third st of clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine abro with UAE, Saudi Arabia and or states.

According to tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, coronavirus has infected more than 20 million people worldwide.