Russia Begins 40,000 Participant Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine

Russia will begin a phase 3 trial of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine on 40,000 volunteers this week, Russia’s state news agency Tass announced Friday.

The controversial vaccine developed at Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute was approved for use in Russia on Aug. 11 although it had yet to enter a late-stage trial. Healthcare workers and teachers in Russia will be able to get the vaccine while the trial is going on.

The month-long international study will enroll volunteers in Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and maybe Brazil and India.