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 Russia is rolling out its Sputnik V vaccine for domestic use despite
the fact that late-stage trials have not yet finished, and on
Tuesday said it was more than 90% effective, following earlier
comments by vaccine developers Pfizer Inc <PFE.N> and BioNTech <BNTX.O>,
who said the same of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
"There are already two registered vaccines. And studies have already
shown and confirmed that, firstly, these vaccines are safe and have
no serious side-effects after use, and secondly, they are all
effective," said Putin via video conference at a Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting.
Russia's vaccine efficacy was based upon data collated from
vaccinations of the public, rather than from an ongoing trial.
Putin also said Moscow was ready to cooperate on coronavirus
vaccines and agreed with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that the
jab should be made widely available for all of humankind, TASS
reported.
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"We suggest not politicising these processes, considering that
people all over the planet are today in need of these drugs, without
any exaggeration," he said.
"We are ready to work with all countries of the world and of course,
with our partners within the SCO framework."
Russia on Tuesday reported 20,977 new coronavirus infections and 368
deaths. At 1,817,109, its overall case tally is the fifth largest in
the world, behind the United States, India, Brazil and France.
(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing
by William Maclean)
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