IMPRESSIVE! Russia breaks record, invents COVID-19 vaccine

…Sechenov University in Russia completes the huge feat after administering the vaccine on volunteers

The world could heave a sigh of relief as Russia emerges the first nation to accomplish clinical trials of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, following a successful conclusion of the study that Sechenov University announced.

According to Sechenov University Center for Clinical Research on Medications head and chief researcher, Elena Smolyarchuk, study statistics proved the vaccine candidate’s effectiveness, reported Russian news agency TASS.

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

It was also ascertained that the trial volunteers will be examined on a casualty basis after being discharged.

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There are reports that Russia gave approvals for clinical trials of two formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.

An intramuscular solution of the vaccine was confirmed at the Burdenko Military Hospital while Sechenov University evaluated the injection in the form of a powder for the research of an intramuscular solution.

The first aspect of the trial at the university began on 18 June in a group of 18 participants, while the second group of the study contained 20 volunteers who were inoculated on 23 June. 

Vadim Tarasov, the director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology was quoted by Russian news agency Sputnik as saying: “Sechenov University in a pandemic situation acted not only as an educational institution but also as a scientific and technological research center that is able to participate in the creation of such important and complex products as drugs…

“We worked with this vaccine, starting with preclinical studies and protocol development, and clinical trials are currently underway.”

The research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe and effective. Prior to the human trials, the vaccine was tested for its noxiousness, security, immunogenicity and efficacy in big and small animals at the Russian Defence Ministry’s 48th Central research institute. 

The reports also confirmed that the volunteers were asked to be quarantined in the hospital for 28 days, after the injection had been administered on them.

The results of the tests performed on them showed that they were developing immunity to the coronavirus.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not given its verdict or made any official comment on this huge clinical feat accomplished by Russia.

Also, other advanced countries like the United States, China are yet to submit their commendations on the novel achievement.