MAJORITY OF RUSSIAN DOCTORS “DISAPPROVE” RUSSIA’S COVID-19 “VACCINE” – SURVEY REPORT DETAILS

The World’s first COVID-19 vaccine was announced and launched by President Putin in Russia, last week. This vaccine which came to be known as Sputnik V was claimed to be safe and effective. However, a majority of Russian Doctors have said otherwise.

The Health Department announced that the vaccine will initially be given to the doctors and other front-line workers in order to help assist them in boosting their immunity and fighting the pandemic. Further, they added that mass production and mass vaccination will be carried out post October 2020. A survey conducted by the Doctor’s Handbook app which was cited by RBC news website states that one in two Russian medics refuse to taking the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

The study involved more than 3,000 doctors and only 24% of them were willing to take the vaccine shot. 52% of them said that they will not get vaccinated. Among the total population, over 48% medics were of the opinion that the vaccine was developed far too early and was not tested enough.

“It’s normal for trust to be earned through years of application. But one shouldn’t confuse trust with the official assessment of safety and efficiency. These results allow experts to conclude that the vaccine can be used,” Oleg Salagay, the Deputy Health Minister wrote on Telegram in response to this published survey.

The final stage, phase III of clinical human trials is likely to begin in another week’s time in Russia where tens and thousands of people will be vaccinated and the vaccine will be studied for possible side-effects and more.