The WHO called Russia's contribution to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine significant. The organization, as its representative in Moscow Melita Vujnovic noted in an interview for RIA Novosti, welcomes the country's participation in this case.
Earlier, nine Russian developments of vaccines against the coronavirus infection were included in the WHO list of promising ones.
"The development of a coronavirus vaccine is underway at an intensive pace in dozens of research centers around the world, including in Russia. The WHO welcomes Russia's significant contribution to the overall global challenge of developing a vaccine. All vaccine developers are very important to the WHO. I can say positively that Russia is participating," she said, in particular.
To date, according to Vujnovic, 77 developments are considered as potential vaccines against the COVID-19 at the stage of preclinical trials, six candidates - at the stage of clinical trials.
At the same time, the expert noted that it would take a long time before the coronavirus vaccine became available to the population around the world. The development process is expected to take several months.
According to the latest WHO data, more than 2.5 million cases of the coronavirus infection have been recorded in the world, and more than 175 thousand people died.
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