The vaccine got its name after the first man-made satellite launched by the Soviet Union
MOSCOW – The world’s first registered vaccine against the coronavirus infection which was developed in Russia was named Sputnik V, the official vaccine website launched on Tuesday said.
“In 1957, the successful launch of the first man-made satellite by the Soviet Union activated space research in the entire world. Thanks to this comparison, the vaccine received the name of Sputnik V,” the website explains. It is noted that currently over 160 vaccines against the coronavirus are developed worldwide.
The web resource is created “to spread detailed and up-to-date information about the vaccine” and “to fight the disinformation campaign about the vaccine launched by several international news outlets,” the statement said.
Earlier on Tuesday, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev stated that there are “coordinated and carefully planned information attacks on the Russian vaccine” in the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reported on Tuesday morning that Russia was the first in the world to register a vaccine against the coronavirus. This is the development of the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry which passed clinical trials in June – July.
Russia has received a request for the production of 1 bln doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology from 20 states, RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev said during an online conference.
Russia’s Health Ministry has registered the vaccine against the coronavirus infection developed by the Gamaleya Research Center as a solution for injections. It will appear in circulation starting on January 1, 2021, the website of the State Register of Pharmaceuticals reported on Tuesday.
“Date of introduction to the civilian circulation – 01.01.2021,” the site noted.
According to the latest statistics, over 20 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 736,000 deaths have been reported. To date, 897,599 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 703,175 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 15,131 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation. /TASS
