Some scientists said they fear that with this fast regulatory approval Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety amid the global race to develop a vaccine against the disease. Its approval comes before trials that would normally involve thousands of participants, commonly known as Phase III. Such trials are usually considered essential precursors for a vaccine to secure regulatory approval. The vaccine has been named “Sputnik V” in homage to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union. Click here for complete coronavirus coverageMoscow’s Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, said previously that Russia would be producing about 5 million doses a month by December-January, Interfax said.

Source: Hindustan Times August 15, 2020 12:10 UTC