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At first dismissed and ridiculed by Western countries, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has not only been rehabilitated; it's emerging as a powerful tool of influence abroad for President Vladimir Putin.
The vaccine, named after the first satellite sent into space almost 70 years ago, was meant to evoke historic images of Russian glory. Instead, initial claims of Sputnik V's effectiveness were met with deep skepticism after Russia authorized its widespread use before completing all phases of its clinical trials.
It confirmed the vaccine is "safe and effective." While the journal noted Sputnik V's development faced criticism for "an absence of transparency" and "corner cutting," it said the vaccine maker, Moscow's Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, had, in fact, demonstrated solid scientific principles.
At about $10 US each for the two-shot dose, the vaccine is roughly half the price of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and it can be stored at –2 C whereas the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require much-colder temperatures.
