News of Hope: Russia claims to have developed first COVID-19 vaccine

August 11: When the entire world is striving hard to contain the further spread of coronavirus, a news of hope came from Russia on Tuesday afternoon. President Vladimir Putin has announced, “Russia has developed the first vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus.” As per a report in the Wion, the President announced that the vaccine has been registered and his daughter is among those who have been vaccinated. The move comes before the country plans to start mass vaccination in October.

During a televised video conference call with government ministers in Russia, Putin said, “This morning, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the new coronavirus was registered.” The vaccine was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and had less than two months of human testing.

There are currently more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines in development around the world, with at least four being in the final stages of human trials.