Moscow - The world's first approval of corona vaccine in Russia is causing criticism around the world. The reason is the unscientific approach of the Russians from the point of view of the critics. However, some countries have already expressed an interest in the vaccine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday that the vaccine, named after the first Russian satellite in space, was "Sputnik V". According to the few publicly available information, this has only been tested on few people.
The decisive third test phase , in which active ingredients are usually tested on several thousand test subjects, skipped the Russian researchers. According to government reports, it should run in the background while the vaccine is already being administered to the first population groups.
Foreign scientists are concerned
Study results and data, which foreign scientists use to understand the quality and safety of the vaccine could not have been published.
"That the Russians are skipping such measures and steps worries our community of vaccination scientists," said Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas the journal. "If you get it wrong, the entire global project could be undermined."
Mass vaccination with an insufficiently tested vaccine is unethical, criticized Francois Balloux from University College London.
Also the World Health Organization () reacted cautiously to the supposed success. Research on vaccine should be carried out according to proven processes in every development step to ensure that the vaccine is safe and effective, said the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
The Federal Research Ministry also expressed its behavior. "In principle, every step towards safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is to be welcomed," spokesman said yesterday. "Unfortunately, we have very little information on the vaccine candidate from the state research institute Gamaleja in Moscow."
Despite the immense criticism, there is also interest in the drug. For example, the Brazilian state of Paraná announced that it would like to conclude an agreement with Russia to produce the vaccine itself on site.
The vaccine is expected to be available in the second half of 2021. "We will work in stages," said the Russian consul in Curitiba, Acef Said.
However, the prerequisite for use in the Brazilian state is the testing of "Sputnik V" in phase III studies that have not yet been carried out. This is what the Brazilian health authority Anvisa stipulates.
According to Jorge Callado, President of the leading technology institute Tecpar in Curitiba, such study could be carried out in Brazil.
Also the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced cooperation with Russia to test the vaccine and then to manufacture it himself. For this he offered himself up as guinea pig. "I can be the first to be experimented with," said the head of state of the Southeast Asian country.
The Philippines are one of the regions in Asia most affected by corona. There should also be consultations between Russia and Israel, as Israeli Health Minister Juli Edelstein announced yesterday. There is fundamental interest in "Sputnik V".
Donald Trump promises progress with his own vaccine
After Russia's announcement, US President Donald Trump promised the American people rapid progress in development their own vaccine. "We're well on our way to producing 100 million doses quickly once the vaccine is approved and up to 500 million shortly thereafter," he said.
According to the WHO, there are currently six in the crucial phase III. These include the US Moderna project and the cooperation between the German company BioNTech and the pharmaceutical manufacturers Fosun Pharma and Pfizer.
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