Photo: Sergei Kiselyov / Moskva News Agency.
A team of elderly scientists behind Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’ coronavirus vaccine say they have not reported adverse effects after being injected with the potential vaccine.
Sputnik V’s registration as a potential vaccine last month sparked questions over its effectiveness and safety, with some Russian experts warning it could cause harm to patients aged 60 and older.
Alexander Gintsburg, the head of Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute which developed the vaccine, told The Moscow Times that around a dozen of its employees aged between 70 and 80 had taken the shots and did not report complications.
“They’re all fit, healthy, active, they’re giving lectures, managing patients and playing sports,” said Mr Gintsburg.
“The vaccination did not affect them in any way.”
68-year-old Mr Gintsburg told reporters he had also taken the potential vaccine.
His remarks came amid a reports that several high-level Russian government officials have taken the Sputnik V vaccine in recent weeks.
Russian health officials said this week that so far only 2,500 out of 40,000 volunteers had been recruited for Phase 3 trials of Sputnik V.
Mr Gintsburg said that volunteers in the 60-80 age group would be recruited from Moscow’s residents.
“I hope that what I just told you will be officially confirmed and the vaccine will be allowed to be used for older people,” Mr Gintsburg said.