Mubasher: Russia became the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine following less than two months of human testing, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Speaking during a televised government meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that the vaccine, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, was safe and that it had even been administered to one of his daughters.

“I know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks,” he continued, hoping the country would start mass production of the vaccine soon.

This development prepares for the mass vaccination of the Russian population, even as the final stage of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continues.   

Russian health workers handling COVID-19 patients will be offered the chance of volunteering to be vaccinated soon after the vaccine’s approval, a source previously told Reuters.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 100 vaccine candidates are being developed around the globe to try to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, while at least four are in the final phase of human trials.