Moscow claims to have produced the world's first #COVID19 #vaccine. Few details have been shared, but here is what we know:
1.) testing has been done on fewer than 100 people
2.) Putin claims that all have antibodies and the only complication/side effect was fever
1/

3.) By definition, no #Phase3 trial has been done, so if we take Putin's work for it we can *perhaps* say there is evidence for safety, but no one can pretend there is evidence for efficacy as defined by "protection against #COVID19"

4.) This was an a priori ("first") claim

2/

5.) Even IF we take Putin at his word (and given that there is no independently verifiable evidence available), this would make the #RussianVaccine best case scenario on par with several other #COVID19 #vaccines which have been shown to be safe and produce antibodies...
3/

...but whose widespread, long-term efficacy (protection from #COVID19) is still under evaluation

6.) I would put it far behind the others whose #Phase3 trials are underway, as those have now being administered to a large trial population, and the #RussianVaccine is <100
4/

7.) We also know that Putin has been keen to restore #Russia as a major international power, and "solving" the #pandemic would certainly help to do that.

8.) Several countries are negotiating to purchase lots, and production is being ramped up.
5/

In summation, the #RussianVaccine feels like smoke and mirrors at best, and mere propaganda at worst.

I'll wait on #Phase3 trials before declaring the world's first #COVID19 #vaccines, thanks.
/end

@threadreaderapp please unroll