Soon after Russian
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had become the first country to develop
first ever coronavirus vaccine, it said that 20 countries have pre-booked a
billion doses of the new vaccine, reported AFP.

As per reports, the
industrial production of the new vaccine named as ‘Sputnik V,’ after Soviet satellite, will start in September.  

In a major
announcement on Tuesday, Putin said that Russia had become the first country to
approve a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the
coronavirus. He also said that one of his daughters has been inoculated.

The announcement came
after scientists in the West raised concerns about the speed of development of
Russian vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after
coming under pressure from authorities to deliver.

Also Read: Russia names Covid-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’, after Soviet satellite

“This morning,
for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the new coronavirus was
registered” in Russia, he said during a televised video conference call
with government ministers.

“I know that it
is quite effective, that it gives sustainable immunity,” he said. He said
one of his daughters had been inoculated with the vaccine, developed by the
Gamaleya research institute in coordination with the Russian defence ministry.

“In this sense
she took part in the experiment,” Putin said, adding that she had a slight
temperature after a second injection and “that’s all”.

“What counts
most is for us to be able to ensure the unconditional safety of the use of this
vaccine and its efficiency in the future. I hope that this will be
accomplished,” Putin said.