In an interview with the Rossiya 24 broadcaster, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a second vaccine against COVID-19 will be ready in September.
"There will be another vaccine ready in September... the drug is being developed by the famous Vector Institute in Novosibirsk", Putin said.
He noted that the first Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, and the second one will most likely compete, also expressing hope that the new drug will be as effective as the previous one, which was registered earlier this month.
"We have done everything necessary to register [the vaccine], as it is called, on a condition. And this condition is a further study of this medicine during its mass distribution. So, we have done it in strict accordance with the Russian law", Putin explained.
President Putin noted that his daughter has been vaccinated with Sputnik V and developed antibodies, proving its safety and efficiency.
His remarks came just days after Russia's consumer rights protection and human well-being watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, revealed that the Research Centre Vector intends to complete clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in September.
The watchdog added that all the volunteers taking part in the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine are feeling fine.
"14 persons were vaccinated during the first phase, and 43 more during the second phase. 43 more volunteers from the placebo control group received a placebo", Rospotrebnadzor said.
Last week, the Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has donated $54 million to coronavirus research, released information about the methodology of the first registered vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V, revealing the results of the clinical trials, the technological platform, and the proven safety of the method.
On 11 August, Russia registered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, named Sputnik V and developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute. The vaccine has been tested on 76 volunteers separately at two institutions — the Moscow-based Sechenov University and the Russian Defence Ministry's Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital. Phase 3 in the trial of the Russian vaccine, involving around 2,000 people, is currently underway.
According to Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, the export of Sputnik V may begin in spring 2021, after its production in Russia picks up pace. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova revealed that 27 countries have expressed interest in purchasing the world's first coronavirus vaccine.
