Russia on August 11 declared itself the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine with President Vladimir Putin saying one of his daughters had been inoculated. Dubbing the vaccine "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space, Russian officials said it provided safe, stable immunity and denounced Western attempts to undermine Moscow's research. Scientists in the West have raised concerns about the speed of development of Russian vaccines. World Health Organization said any WHO stamp of approval on a COVID-19 vaccine candidate would require a rigorous safety data review. Kirill Dmitriyev, who heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said industrial production was expected from September and that 20 countries had made "preliminary applications for over one billion doses" of the vaccine. The speed at which the Russian vaccine has been produced, has eclipsed front runners like Oxford-Astrazeneca, Moderna and Pfizer. This has led to experts raising concerns that the Russian government has cut corners and its vaccine may put citizens at risk.
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