Russia becomes the first country to successfuly complete the clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine on humans.
Clinical trials of vaccine against the novel coronavirus were completed on volunteers at Russia’s Sechenov University, and the results of research proved the medication’s effectiveness.
According to the head of the Center for Clinical Research on Medications at Sechenov University, the research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe. The volunteers will be discharged on July 15 and July 20.
The volunteers will remain under medical supervision on an out-patient basis after being discharged.
The first stage of research on the vaccine at Sechenov University kicked off on June 18 when a group of 18 volunteers were vaccinated. The second group of 20 volunteers were vaccinated on June 23.
The volunteers are males and females, aged 18 to 65. In the clinical study at Sechenov University, they receive a lyophilised vaccine—a powder from which a solution is prepared for intramuscular injection. The vaccine was developed by Gamaleya Institute, an epidemiology research centre in Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Health sanctioned the trial on 16 June. Sechenov University has been selected as the site of this clinical study because of its outstanding infrastructure and the high professional level of its medical staff.
Some participants of the trial experienced headaches and an elevated body temperature, however, these symptoms resolved completely within 24 hours after vaccine administration.
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Gamaleya Institute is also being tested at Military Hospital in Moscow, but this clinical trial uses the liquid form of the medication.
News Sources: TASS and Sechenov University
