Russia to Approve First COVID-19 Vaccine by Mid-August

Russia says it is on track to be first in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine by mid-August.

The vaccine however, according to reports from CNN might have 'safety' concerns.

Russian officials are reportedly working towards approving the vaccine, come August 10, 2020 or earlier.

The vaccine - created byMoscow-based Gamaleya Institute - will be approved for public use, with frontline healthcare workers getting it first, they said.

"It's a Sputnik moment," said Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, which is financing Russian vaccine research, referring to the successful 1957 launch of the world's first satellite by the Soviet Union.

"Americans were surprised when they heard Sputnik's beeping. It's the same with this vaccine. Russia will have got there first," he added.

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Russia's plan to approve the first vaccine comes as global confirmed cases of coronavirus hit 16,747,268.

The COVID-19 death toll stands at 660,593 globally.

At least 4,352,084 cases and 149,258 deaths have been recorded in the United States alone, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

And within than two weeks from now, Russia may approve the desperately needed coronavirus vaccine.

But Russia has released no scientific data on its vaccine testing according to an article by CNN.

Critics say the country's push for a vaccine comes amid political pressure from the Kremlin, which is keen to portray Russia as a global scientific force.

There are also wide concerns the human testing of the vaccine is incomplete.