Former FDA Head Wouldn’t Take New Russian Vaccine, Says They May Be Trying To “Goad US Into Early Action”

The Washington Post reports:

The Russian government’s recent claims of a medical breakthrough with the “Sputnik V” coronavirus vaccine are churning intrigue around the world — and skepticism from several U.S. health experts.

“I wouldn’t take it, certainly not outside a clinical trial right now,” former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Tuesday during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Gottlieb noted the Russian vaccine “appears that it’s only been tested in several hundred patients at most.”

HHS Sec. Alex Azar echoed Gottlieb’s sentiments and said for vaccine development, safety should trump speed. “The point is not to be first with the vaccine,” Azar said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday. “The point is to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people and the people of the world.”

Russia was reported to be behind disinformation campaigns to sow doubts in U.S. about our Covid vaccines; and today’s news that they “approved” a vaccine on the equivalent of phase 1 data may be another effort to stoke doubts or goad U.S. into forcing early action on our vaccines https://t.co/WR6xPkFcfJ

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) August 11, 2020