Russia announced on Wednesday that it had completed the first clinical trials of a pilot vaccine against the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) that was tested in humans for completion in full by the end of July.
These experiments were conducted by the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Nikolai Gamalia Center for Research in Epidemiology and Microbiology, and began in mid-June at a prestigious military hospital in Moscow on a group of volunteers consisting mainly of Russian soldiers and civilians.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the first group of 18 volunteers "ended their participation and left the hospital."
The main objective of the experiment on this group was to verify the safety of the vaccine and the tolerance of the human body to its components, according to the same source.
The volunteers spent 4 weeks in hospital after receiving the vaccine on June 18, where they underwent daily checks.
The press release stated that "during this period, their vital functions remained within the normal range, without recording any unwanted dangerous effects or complications."
"Their immunity is good, and the antibodies are formed in their body and they have protection from the virus," said Svetlana Volchikhina, the co-director of the experiments department, in a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"We now know that we are 100% protected and we are not afraid to get out of here," said soldier Yuri, who took part in the tests.
The statement confirmed that a second group of volunteers, including 20 people who received the experimental vaccine on June 23, are currently in hospital isolation under medical supervision.
He added that this clinical trial on the vaccine is expected to be completed by the end of July.