Sputnik V: Russia-approved Covid-19 vaccine's first batch produced

Moscow : Russia on Saturday announced that they have produced the first batch of Sputnik V, a coronavirus vaccine, after getting approval from President Vladimir Putin.

The development comes at a time when more than 21 million people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and nearly 7,66,000 fatalities have been reported.

Vladimir Putin's announcement was not taken well by the scientists across the world, who raised suspicion over the speed of development and safety protocols ahead of release of the vaccine.

"The first batch of the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya research institute has been produced," the health ministry said on Saturday. The vaccine is called Sputnik V.

With cases nearing 1-million-mark, Russia is on the fourth spot of the tally with most number of coronavirus cases. 

Meanwhile, a projection by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the pandemic could claim 2,00,000 lives in the US by September 5.

California on Friday became the first US state to surpass 600,000 cases and the Midwest saw several record one-day rises as some states struggled to contain the pandemic even as a few welcomed students back to school campuses.