Russian Elite Given Experimental Covid-19 Vaccine Since April

[still_one]

Scores of Russia’s business and political elite have been given early access to an experimental vaccine against Covid-19, according to people familiar with the effort, as the country races to be among the first to develop an inoculation.

Top executives at companies including aluminum giant United Co. Rusal, as well as billionaire tycoons and government officials began getting shots developed by the state-run Gamaleya Institute in Moscow as early as April, the people said. They declined to be identified as the information isn’t public.

The Gamaleya vaccine, financed by the state-run Russian Direct Investment Fund and backed by the Defense Ministry, last week completed a phase 1 trial involving military personnel. The institute hasn’t published results for the study, which involved about 40 people, but has begun the next stage of testing with a larger group.

Gamaleya’s press office couldn’t be reached immediately for comment. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who recovered from Covid-19 after being hospitalized with the virus in May, said he doesn’t know the names of anyone who’s received the institute’s vaccine.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-20/russian-elite-got-experimental-covid-19-vaccine-from-april

[LisaL]

1. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they gave it to Putin.

Putin was actually exposed to covid when he met with a doctor who was later (soon after meeting Putin) diagnosed with covid. Putin of course didn't get sick.

[tanyev]

2. There you go. They probably sent some to Donald, as well.

[LisaL]

4. Wouldn't surprise me if Trump was vaccinated.

He didn't have to get the vaccine from Russia. There are lots of vaccines, but none have been approved since they haven't been (fully) tested. But certainly vaccines exist and some are starting phase III trials. If Trump was vaccinated, it would explain how Trump can run around maskless.

[tanyev]

7. Wouldn't have to be Russia, but he's done some spectacular work for them over the last few years.

[captain queeg]

3. I wouldn't be surprised if Donny has been getting some expiremental vaccine

Or antibodies. That would give lie to it just being like having a cold. You wouldn’t take an experimental vaccine just to prevent a cold. I guess at least a normal person wouldn’t but who knows how his twisted mind would see things

[LiberalFighter]

5. They tested it on elite first?

[LisaL]

6. They view it as protecting the elite.

The Russian vaccine is using well established technology (unlike some of RNA vaccines being developed in US), so they are not really worried about this vaccine causing health problems for elite.

[LisaL]

9. This seems to be a wrong website to spread ridiculous conspiracy theories.

Russia has a very large number of covid cases. Furthermore, the vaccine they are developing is just one of many vaccines being developed by numerous countries.

[Squinch]

11. Gosh Lisa. Thanks so much for letting us know what you think is acceptable to think about.

[LisaL]

13. Nobody can stop you from thinking about it.

But I thought this was a wrong website to post ridiculous conspiracy theories that make no sense.

[themaguffin]

10. Nope. Please don't. That's right winger thinking.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Not sure if I'd see an experimental Russian vaccine as a desirable thing

I might volunteer for the Oxford one, for instance, but I wouldn't see it as a brilliant "hah, now I've got the vaccine - lucky me!!!" thing. And I don't know if Russian vaccine development is particularly good, or safe; several years in an authoritarian regime may encourage them to cut corners, or use partners for political rather than medical reasons.

[LisaL]

14. Russians aren't offering you their experimental vaccine either.

As far as I can tell, Russian vaccine is using similar technology to an Oxford vaccine-an adenoviral vector with spike protein inserted.
And by the way, Russia had a lot more than just several years of authoritarian regime. When did it ever not have an authoritarian regime?