Alexander Gintsburg, the Director of Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said on Tuesday those over 80 years are recommended to receive a vaccine against COVID-19.
During a roundtable on COVID-19, hosted by the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, renowned doctor Leonid Roshal, Head of the National Medical Chamber, recounted previously asking Gintsburg about the possibility of vaccination for seniors.
“I have asked what should people over 80 do if the instruction says vaccination is for those who are only up to 60 years old, and heard back- get vaccinated anyway,” Roshal said.
The head of the Gamaleya Institute confirmed that account.
“Absolutely right,” Gintsburg said.
On Aug.11, Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V and developed by the Gamaleya Institute.
Similarly, Russian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers are so confident about its safety that they will not seek full legal protection from potential liability claims, an official says.
Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said this on Tuesday.
“The approach is different from many other vaccine developers, who seek indemnity if unexpected adverse effects occur.
“Russia is not asking for full legal indemnity because of the confidence in its human adenoviral vector platform proven to be safe over decades.
“At the same time, Western vaccine makers insist on full indemnity – putting all legal risks of their unproven vaccines on the countries that buy vaccines.
Western vaccine makers have to do this because they understand well that monkey adenovirus and RNA vaccines have never been studied for long term negative effects and vaccine makers do not want to bear risks of their own vaccines,” Dmitriev said in a statement.
In August, Russia registered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, named Sputnik V and developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
According to the health ministry, Sputnik V is safe and has proven to be capable of building immunity against the virus.
The vaccine is yet to complete the required Phase lll of clinical trials.
According to WHO protocols, a candidate vaccine has to complete three phases of clinical trials to be approved for industrial production.
