Russia’s Second Coronavirus Vaccine Approved after Preliminary Trials

MOSCOW, KOMPAS.com – Russia has granted regulatory approval to a second coronavirus vaccine, according to its register of authorized medicines.

A delighted President Vladimir Putin announced the coronavirus vaccine progress update at a government meeting on Wednesday.

The second coronavirus vaccine from Russia was developed by the Vector Institute in Siberia and completed early-stage human trials last month.

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However, results of the Covid-19 vaccine have yet to be published and a large-scale trial, known as Phase 3, has not yet begun.

"We need to increase the production of the first and second vaccine," Putin said in comments broadcast on state TV.

"We are continuing to cooperate with our foreign partners and will promote our vaccine abroad."

The peptide-based coronavirus vaccine, named EpiVacCorona, is the second to be licensed for use in Russia.

There has been a placebo-controlled trial on 100 volunteers between 18 and 60 in Novosibirsk.

A shot developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, Sputnik V, was licensed for domestic use in August.