Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a global race to find a vaccine.
Scientists, however, are worried some countries may be rushing the process and compromising safety.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country has approved the world’s first coronavirus vaccine.
Putin said it showed what he called “sustainable immunity” against the new coronavirus, adding that his own daughter was inoculated.
But scientists in Russia and abroad are sceptical about the vaccine’s effectiveness. They said offering it to the public before the important final stage of testing could pose serious problems.
So, were Russian scientists pressured to cut corners? And was there any significance to the timing of the announcement?
