Vladimir Putin says Russia has effective Ebola vaccine, expert expresses doubts

Russian President Vladimir Putin is making headlines once more as he claims that Russia successfully developed a vaccine for Ebola. The president did not provide further details on how the vaccine was developed including how it works and any clinical trials conducted.

“We have good news,” RIA Novosti news agency quoted Putin via The Guardian. “We have registered a drug against Ebola, which after the corresponding tests has been shown to be highly effective, more effective than the drugs used worldwide up to now.”

Russia reportedly created and registered two different Ebola vaccines that performed more effectively than their counterparts. Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said during a meeting that one of the vaccines is in fact intended for people with immunodeficiency.

“In December, Russia registered two Ebola fever vaccines, which were developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and tested in cooperation with the Health and Defence ministries,” TASS quoted Skvotsova via RT.

“One of the vaccines is absolutely unique and has no analogues in the world. It provides 100 percent immunity to the disease,” added the official.

Guina, a country in the West Africa, already asked for Russia's help, according to the minister. However, experts are expressing doubts over Putin's claims, according to ABC.

Ira Longini, a scientist who has been involved in the development of an Ebola vaccine linked to a very high success rate in clinical trials, said that the claims make no sense. According to Longini, who works as a professor of infectious diseases at Florida University’s Emerging Pathogens Institute, added that given the vaccine is its early stage of testing means that it is impossible for Russia to assess its effectiveness already.

“This is a preliminary stage 1 study. Which is fine -- it shows their product should go forward. It shows some promise. But you can’t say anything about efficacy at this point,” the scientist told ABC.