“No adverse reactions observed”: the first 18 volunteers received a coronavirus vaccine

The first 18 volunteers at the N.N. military hospital were given the coronavirus vaccine Burdenko, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Together with the N. F. Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, the military department began clinical trials of a Russian drug developed for the prevention of coronavirus infection. The tests were approved by the Russian Ministry of Health on June 16.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the process is under the control of the most experienced specialists. Of the 18 volunteers, nine received one component of the drug, and another nine received another.

“According to the results of a survey and examination of volunteers, there were no adverse reactions or complications, there were no complaints from the participants in the experiment about their health condition. After the introduction of the vaccine, all volunteers will continue to be under the constant supervision of medical specialists. Regular screenings, taking necessary samples and analyzes will be carried out, ”the press service of the Ministry of Defense quoted the agency as saying.

The next group of volunteers is currently in custody under the supervision of doctors. After receiving the first information confirming the safety of the drug, as well as data on its tolerability, he will also be immunized.

In total, 50 volunteers participate in the trials, in addition to civilians, these are contract soldiers from 25 to 50 years old, including five women. In early June, all volunteers were sent to isolation for two weeks to eliminate the risk of coronavirus infection. 

The drug, which was administered to volunteers, was previously successfully tested for toxicity, safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy in large and small animals at the 48th Central Scientific Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The head of the 48th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Sergei Borisevich, told Komsomolskaya Pravda about the testing of the Russian coronavirus vaccine. According to him, it was created on the same platform as the vaccines against Ebola and illness caused by the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

According to the data voiced by Sergey Borisevich, immunity against these diseases persists for a year after vaccination. Military doctors expect that the effect of vaccination will last for a long time. The first results of the tests, according to the colonel, medical scientists will be able to do in August or September.

The head of the 48th Central Research Institute also said that if all stages of the registration of vaccine preparations prescribed by law are successfully completed, then the industrial production of the domestic vaccine should be expected closer to the end of this year.

The vaccine will be administered intramuscularly as indicated by the attending physician.

Earlier, the director of the Gamaleya Center Alexander Gunzburg said that the employees of the research institute, which developed the vaccine, including himself, had already been vaccinated. As a result, protective antibodies were found in all. According to the Ministry of Health, the first samples of the drug may be available in August or September of this year.

Recall that over the past day in 83 regions of Russia identified 7,790 new cases of coronavirus infection. According to the headquarters, 31.5% of patients had no clinical manifestations of the disease.

Since the beginning of the epidemic in Russia, 313,963 patients have recovered, including 9621 in the last day. A total of 7660 people died from complications that developed against the background of coronavirus infection, 182 over the past day.

Moscow remains the leader in the number of cases detected in Russia, but this indicator is gradually decreasing. Over the past 24 hours, 1040 new patients with COVID-19 were recorded in the capital.

According to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the country is experiencing a steady decline in the growth rate of the incidence of COVID-19. During a government meeting, he stated that in recent days this figure has averaged 1.4%.

The head of the Cabinet of Ministers noted that such a tendency is recorded in almost all subjects of the Federation, and in this connection, a phased exit of the regions from the previously introduced restriction regime becomes possible. According to Mishustin, already 53 subjects of the Federation have moved to the first stage of easing restrictions, and eight to the second.