Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe – Health Minister

Ayo Oluokun

August 12, 2020

Enjoying this story? Read the full magazine — archive back to 1993.

Coronavirus testing

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko on Wednesday said allegations that Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine was unsafe were groundless and driven by competition, the Interfax news agency reported.

On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine, after less than two months of human testing.

Moscow’s decision to grant it approval has raised concerns among some experts.

Only about 10 per cent of clinical trials are successful and some scientists fear Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety. (Reuters/NAN)