Pre-orders of COVID-19 vaccine top five billion
WASHIGNTON: Although none of the coronavirus vaccines under development has proved its efficacy yet in clinical trials, at least 5.7 billion doses have been pre-ordered around the world.
First shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine created by Western laboratories have often been snapped up by the United States.
Five vaccines - three Western and two Chinese - are in Phase 3 efficacy trials involving thousands of people.
In a surprise announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Tuesday that a vaccine dubbed "Sputnik V" - after the Soviet satellite - conferred "sustainable immunity" against the novel coronavirus.
As research laboratories around the world race to develop a vaccine, manufacturers have received financing to help them prepare to have millions of doses ready to administer in 2021 or even before the end of the year.