Just hours before Russia registered its first COVID-19 vaccine, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte showed his intent to be among the first to take the vaccine. “When the vaccine arrives, I will have myself injected in public. Experiment on me first, that’s fine with me,” Duterte said.
The Philippines had accepted Russia’s offer of its coronavirus vaccine on August 7. The South-East Asian nation is currently struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases. The country’s president volunteered to take the first shot as a gesture of trust and gratitude.
The Philippines on Monday reported 6,958 infections, the largest daily increase, its Department of Health reported. The Philippines currently has 136,638 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Meanwhile, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said the nation had become the first in the world to grant regulatory approval to a coronavirus vaccine after less than two months of human testing. Putin also said that the vaccine had been administered to his daughter.
This allows Russia to administer the vaccine to the Russian population, even as the vaccine is in its final stages of being tested for efficacy and safety. Moscow rolling out the vaccine this early demonstrates its determination to win the global race for an effective product.
Russia’s Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said members of “risk groups," such as medical workers, may be offered the vaccine this month.
At the same time, Russia allowing a vaccine developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute for civilian use even before clinical trials are completed has triggered safety warnings from pharmaceutical companies. Russia’s elite was given the experimental vaccine as early as April.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease specialist, questioned the fast-track approach and was quoted in a Reuters report as saying, “I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing a vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing I think is problematic at best.”
