BERLIN (GERMANY) – German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday said Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine had not been tested effectively. The aim was to put forth a safe product instead of just being the first to start vaccinating people.
President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country by giving regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after human testing in less than two months.
Moscow’s decision to grant approval before final trials have been completed has raised concerns among some experts.
Spahn told radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, “It can be dangerous to start vaccinating millions, if not billions, of people too early because it could pretty much kill the acceptance of vaccination if it goes wrong, so I’m very sceptical about what’s going on in Russia.”
He added, “I would be pleased if we had an initial, good vaccine but based on everything we know – and that’s the fundamental problem, namely that the Russians aren’t telling us much – this has not been sufficiently tested.”
Spahn said even during a pandemic, it was important to conduct proper studies and tests, declare the results of the same before the public to instill confidence in them regarding the vaccine.
He said when asked about Russia’s vaccine, which will be called “Sputnik V”, remembering the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, “It’s not about being first somehow – it’s about having an effective, tested and therefore safe vaccine.”
Only about 10% of trials conducted clinically are successful and some scientists fear Moscow may be giving predominance to keeping a national image before safety.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.