Russia has registered the world’s first-ever vaccine against the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19).
Government officials are claiming the vaccine can provide up to two years of immunity against the deadly virus which has killed almost 800,000 people globally.
The registration was done on Tuesday making Russia the first country to announce it has found the panacea to the viral disease.
Many have praised Russia over the feat but earlier accusation by the US, Britain and Canada that the superpower had used hackers to steal research data from Western labs is still lingering on.
President Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, vouched for the potency and safety of the vaccine which was developed by the Gamaleya Institute headed by Prof. Alexander Gintsburg.
“I know it has proven efficient and forms a stable immunity, and I would like to repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests.
“We must be grateful to those who made that first step very important for our country and the entire world,” he proclaimed.
The Russian leader has even claimed that his own daughter has gotten shots and is doing well.
He explained that his daughter had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius on the day of the first vaccine injection which then dropped to just over 37 degrees on the following day. Only for her temperature to slightly increase again after the second shot was administered and then go back to normal afterwards. “She’s feeling well and has a high number of antibodies,” the president assured.
The Health Ministry has said the vaccine will provide immunity for two years.
President Putin is reported to have said that vaccination will be voluntary, however, health workers, teachers and other risk groups will be the first to receive inoculation.
Professor Alexander Gintsburg has said that vaccination will start while the Phase 3 trials continue.
Sceptics have however, expressed doubt over Russia’s claims with many pointing out the use of soldiers for trials as indicative that the military men were forced to be guinea pigs.