The Russian Gamaleya research centre has received permission to conduct post-registration clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine, the health ministry said.
The trials will be carried out in several state-run medical institutions in Moscow.
40,000 volunteers aged 18 years and over will take part in the trials. The participation of each volunteer will last for six months from the day he or she receives the vaccine.
Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute Director Alexander Gintsburg shared the details of the procedure:
"According to all the documents, we must deliver the vaccine to [medical] centres and if we deliver it on the third [of September], and we will have it delivered, then no one forbids us to begin vaccinating volunteers on the fourth or fifth [of September]," he said.
He added that vaccination among the population may begin on 15-20 September.
"Right now, what has been developed, the two batches, they will be checked by Roszdravnadzor [Russia's health care watchdog] ... All of that will probably be feasible on the 15-20th [of September]," Gintsburg said.
Russia presented its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month. Developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry, the vaccine was officially registered by the Russian government on 11 August. The Russian Ministry of Health said that Sputnik V had undergone all the necessary checks and had been proven to be capable of building immunity against the virus.
