Fauci "seriously doubts" Russia vaccine is ready for widespread useAugust 12, 2020 - 11:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Concocting a vaccine is not the same thing as proving a vaccine is safe and effective, says Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His comments came after news out of Moscow that Russia has approved and is ready to market a coronavirus vaccine. Fauci made the comments as part of a keynote interview for Stopping Pandemics, an exclusive event due to air August 13 via National Geographic. “I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective,” Fauci said to ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, who is moderating the event. “I seriously doubt that they've done that.” Russia has hinted all summer that it’s progressing quickly on its vaccine candidate, which is named Sputnik V after the nation’s groundbreaking satellite launched in 1960. In May, the director of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, where the vaccine is being developed, said he and other researchers had begun testing the drug on themselves before the first phase of human trials began with 76 subjects a month later. But Gamaleya has yet to publish any results from human trials, which typically involve three phases to check a drug’s safety, efficacy, and dosage. The institute also has not released any preclinical research involving animal models or experiments with cells raised in petri dishes. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei Ruling MP accuses opposition of “serving other countries' interests” Khachatur Sukiasyan has accused Armenia’s opposition of serving the interests of other countries Protest leader vows to achieve departure of Armenian authorities According to Archbishop Bagrat, there is only one solution to the situation in Armenia. Heads of Armenian, Ukrainian parliaments hold virtual talks Alen Simonyan and Ruslan Stefanchuk held talks via video conference on Tuesday, May 21. |