Russia in the global ‘vaccine race’
Russia in the global ‘vaccine race’

Author(s): Iwona Wiśniewska, Jadwiga Rogoża
Subject(s): Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Government/Political systems, Security and defense, Health and medicine and law
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: Russia; vaccine race; COVID-19 pandemic; Sputnik V; medical and ethical dilemmas;
Summary/Abstract: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moscow has stepped up its activities in the global‘ vaccine race’ against SARS-CoV-2. So far Russia has registered two vaccines, which was announced by President Vladimir Putin himself. The presentation of Sputnik V, which the Russian government has branded as the ‘world’s first vaccine’, caused controversy from the very start, for both medical (as the clinical trial procedure was not completed) and ethical reasons (forcing ‘volunteers’ to take part in the tests). Foreign specialists, alongside the Russian medical community and the Russian public, have expressed scepticism about the insufficiently tested preparation. Despite this, the government is planning to carry out a mass campaign of public vaccination using Sputnik V and export this vaccine, mainly to developing countries.

• Details
• Contents