Russia first Nation to complete Human Trials for COVID-19 Vaccine

Russia has completed clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine on humans, the country’s Chief Researcher and Head, Center for Clinical Research on Medications at Sechenov University, Elena Smolyarchuk has said.

The news makes the country, the first-ever in the world to complete potential COVID-19 vaccine trials on humans since the outbreak of the disease in December 2019.

Results of the trial conducted on a total of 38 people in two groups at Moscow was said to have proven effective, with volunteers expected to be discharged soon.

“The research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe. The volunteers will be discharged on July 15 and July 20,” Smolyarchuk said.

Volunteers Developing Immunity to COVID-19

“The data obtained by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology proves that volunteers of the first and second groups are forming an immune response after injections of the vaccine against the coronavirus,” an earlier statement from the Russian Defense Ministry also said.

However, there was no further information on when this vaccine would enter the commercial production stage.

The COVID-19 Vaccine

Largest vaccine maker GSK has put its vaccine booster technology to work. Image / Philip Morris. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

The vaccine used in the trial was manufactured by Russia’s Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology on June 18.

Coming in two forms, a solution for intramuscular administration and a powder for the preparation of a solution for intramuscular administration, the vaccine has since been tried on a group of 18 volunteers and the second group of 20 at the University.

The first vaccine, in the form of a solution for intramuscular administration, was carried out at the Burdenko Military Hospital.

“Another vaccine, in the form of a powder for the preparation of a solution for intramuscular administration, was carried out at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University”.

The volunteers were expected to be in isolation for 28 days.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in December last year starting from China and has since spread to the world all over, killing some 568,736 people worldwide as of July 13, 2020, with infection rates nearing 12.7 million.

The disease is yet to have an approved vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that at least 21 potential vaccines were currently under key trial stages.