Russia’s first mass testing of a potential COVID-19 vaccine for domestic regulatory approval will involve more than 40,000 people.
Proponents of the project said on Thursday.
This test aims to allay concerns among some scientists about the lack of data provided by Russia so far.
The vaccine, known as “Sputnik V”, is also a tribute to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union.
Sputnik V has been hailed as safe and effective by Russian authorities and scientists after two months of small-scale human trials, the results of which have yet to be revealed.
But Western experts are more skeptical, warning against use until all internationally approved testing and regulatory steps have been taken and proven successful.
Russia has received requests for up to one billion doses of the vaccine from around the world.
Russia also has the capacity to produce 500 million doses per year through manufacturing partnerships, he said.
The data was provided to the World Health Organization (WHO), said Dmitriev.
In addition, several countries participated in this final phase of the trial, including the United Arab Emirates, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.
Sputnik V has received approval from domestic regulators, leading President Vladimir Putin and other officials to call Russia the first country to license a COVID-19 vaccine.
