Putin, "My Daughter Who Received the Sputnik V Vaccine Is Healthy"...Aware of Safety Controversies

One Daughter Revealed to Participate as Vaccine Clinical Trial Volunteer
Mass Production and Phase 3 Clinical Trials Begin...Seemingly Aware of Safety Controversies

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the efficacy and safety of Russia's novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, Sputnik V, which has been embroiled in safety controversies ahead of mass production and large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials, stating that his daughter received the vaccine and is healthy. He also revealed that his daughter was one of the volunteers participating in the clinical trial. This statement is interpreted as a response to a public opinion survey showing that more than half of Russians distrust the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine and are unwilling to be vaccinated.

According to Russia's TASS news agency, on the 27th (local time), President Putin said in an interview with the Russian TV channel Rossiya 24, "I just spoke with my daughter who received Sputnik V. She is healthy and in good condition." He continued, "My daughter volunteered to participate in the vaccine clinical trial, and this vaccine was strictly approved according to Russian law," emphasizing, "Our vaccine passed preclinical and clinical trials on animals and volunteers."

President Putin's remarks are seen as a response to a survey indicating that more than half of Russians do not trust the Sputnik V vaccine. According to TASS, a survey conducted on the 23rd by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center targeting 1,600 Russian adults aged 18 and over found that 52% of respondents said they would not get vaccinated. Only 42% expressed willingness to receive the vaccine. In a survey by Meduza, a Russian-language internet media outlet in Latvia, 75% said they would not get vaccinated. This is due to concerns about the safety of Sputnik V.

Sputnik V was the world's first COVID-19 vaccine approved by Russia on the 11th, but safety controversies continue. The vaccine's combined Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials involved only 38 participants, and it was approved without conducting Phase 3 trials, leading to global safety concerns. The Russian state-run Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed the vaccine, is currently preparing Phase 3 clinical trials involving about 40,000 people. Consequently, the Russian government has been criticized for conducting clinical trials on civilians with a drug whose safety has not been confirmed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.