Russia Just Approved a Vaccine for COVID-19

Here’s what to know about it

Photo by Vincent Ghilione on Unsplash

I opened my phone today to a shocking piece of news: Russia has supposedly approved a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, told the press today that the country had developed a vaccine for COVID-19. The vaccine was reportedly created by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow. Although the vaccine has not yet been widely distributed to the public, it will soon be on its way to Phase 3 trials and given to thousands of people. According to Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (the organization that is providing all of the funding for the development of the vaccine), these Phase 3 trials are scheduled to start in Russia this Wednesday.

So how should we feel about this news?

People across the world are already developing curiosity about the vaccine. According to Russian officials, at least 20 countries (and a handful of US companies) are interested in the vaccine, says CNN. After COVID-19’s drastic impact on the global economy and its high infection rate and death toll, it’s understandable that people would be eager to get their hands on a vaccine. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we just want this whole ordeal to be done as soon as possible so we can return to our lives and save…