Western scientists have previously raised concerns about the speed of development of Russian vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners. The World Health Organization's spokesman in Geneva Tarik Jasarevic said it was in "close contact" with Russian health authorities but that it was too soon for any WHO stamp of approval. Advertisement"Pre-qualification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all the required safety and efficacy data," he said. You've got to be able to deliver that vaccine to a population that want and demand to have that vaccine," he said. At the other end of the spectrum, New Zealand on Tuesday broke a more than 100-day streak without locally transmitted coronavirus infections.

Source: Daily Nation August 12, 2020 05:15 UTC