President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess. He said he hoped the country would soon start mass producing the vaccine. Regulators around the world have insisted that the rush to develop COVID-19 vaccines will not compromise safety. Russian health workers treating COVID-19 patients will be offered the chance of volunteering to be vaccinated soon after the vaccine's approval, a source told Reuters last month. More than 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world to try to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: The Star August 11, 2020 09:00 UTC