Russia to Start Producing COVID-19 Vaccine in September

In Russia mass production of a COVID-19 vaccine is set to begin in September, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Tatyana Golikova said, according to the Izvestia newspaper.

Golikova noted that at the moment the most promising coronavirus vaccines in Russia are ones developed by the N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology & Microbiology and by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR.

The Gamaleya Center vaccine has been sent for analysis. Its registration is expected on August 10 to 12.

Vaccines are currently in development all around the world, with a small number undergoing large-scale efficacy trials.

The World Health Organization has previously talked about the priority of vaccine supply. The first billion doses of vaccines will go to low- and middle-income economies, according to the WHO.

Earlier media reported that Russian scientists successfully completed clinical trials of a vaccine against the new coronavirus. Moreover, its production can be launched in Kazakhstan. Russian Direct Investment Fund and Samruk-Kazyna, the national welfare fund of Kazakhstan, agreed to collaborate on clinical trials, purchases and manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine.