After Russia boasted of approving the world's first vaccine, there seemsto be a second COVID-19 vaccine in line.
Russia¡¯s Vector, a top-secret state virology research centre in Siberia,said that early-stage trials were successful for its own experimental vaccine,named EpiVacCorona.
"The first two phases of clinical trialsdemonstrated the effectiveness and safety of the EpiVacCorona vaccine,"Vecctor's press department told the Interfax news agency.
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Vector said it would be possible to make the finalconclusions about the efficacy of its vaccine, based on peptides that triggeran immune response, after post-approval clinical trials have been completed.
Russian Health Minister, Mikhail Murashko, told President Vladimir Putin this week, that Vector's vaccine could be approved by the ministry in three weeks.
Vector said post-registration clinical trials would beginon 5,000 volunteers in Siberia.?The lab said there would be a separate clinical trialinvolving 150 volunteers who are over 60 years of age.
?After that Vector will begin placebo-controlled trials on5,000 Russian volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60.
Also Read:?Russia Received Requests To Supply 1.2 Billion Dozes Of 'Sputnik V' COVID-19 Vaccine
The EpiVacCorona vaccine is a two-component vaccine, andthe interval between the administration of the first and second components is21 days.
?Russia plans to manufacture an initial 10,000 doses,Vector said, with production expected to begin in November.
Vector declined to comment when contacted by AFP andreferred all queries to Rospotrebnadzor, the country's consumer safetywatchdog.
Russia announced in August that it had developed the world's first registered vaccine "Sputnik V", named after the world's first satellite.
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It raised concerns among Western scientists after it received approval before full clinical trials were completed.
While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isn¡¯t any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Don¡¯t self medicate/stock up and always consult your doctor/medical health professional.