LONDON – The European Workplace of the World Health Organization said it is in talks with Russia to verify and obtain more data on the COVID-19 experimental vaccine that the country recently approved.
Last week, Russia became the first country in the world to license a coronavirus vaccine when President Vladimir Putin announced its approval. But the vaccine has yet to pass the complex tests needed to prove its effectiveness before being authorized, a major violation of clinical protocol. Russian officials have claimed that the vaccine will provide lasting immunity against COVID-19, but did not provide evidence.
Catherine Smallwood, an emergency official at WHO Europe, said the firm has “direct talks” with Russia and that WHO officials have shared “the other steps and data that will be needed for WHO to be wearing down assessments. “
WHO Europe Director Dr Hans Kluge said the company welcomed all advances in vaccine development, but that all vaccines go through the same clinical trials.
The Russian vaccine has only been tested on a few dozen people.
Kluge noted that Russia has a long history of creating and administering vaccines, adding those that oppose yellow fever and polio.
“This fear we have about protection and efficacy is not particularly afraid of the Russian vaccine, it is for all vaccines in progression,” said Smallwood, who said WHO is taking a “boosting approach” to see how to drive the progression of coronavirus vaccines, however, he said that “it is imperative not to take shortcuts safely or effectively. “
“We’re not going to go through hasty paintings looking to come to conclusions here,” Smallwood said. “We need to take our time to really perceive where the vaccine is and get as much data as possible on the steps that have already been taken. .
Scientists say that complex trials testing an experimental vaccine in tens of thousands of people are the only way to know whether or not it works. Two other potential applicants for the COVID-19 vaccine have already begun such studies in the United States and elsewhere, and it will take about another 30,000 people to get the vaccine and be followed up later.
Russian officials said doctors could start getting vaccinated with their experimental vaccine this month, and mass campaigns could begin in October.