Fauci says Russian vaccine looks ‘pretty effective’

Anthony Fauci, the top US expert on infectious diseases, said the data on the Sputnik V vaccine developed in Russia leads him to believe that it’s “quite effective.”

“I’ve taken a look at some of the reports. It looks pretty good,” Fauci said on Monday during a radio show. Fauci in August had said he was sceptical of the vaccine after Russia swiftly approved it. “I hope that the Russians have actually, definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective,” he said at the time.

“I seriously doubt that they’ve done that.” Russia’s health ministry approved the vaccine after only two months of trials.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, President Putin said he will get vaccinated on Tuesday, but did not specify which one he will take.