Top Russian Doctor Quits, Says ‘Sputnik V’ Vaccine “Grossly Violates” Medical Ethics

• Russian health ministry official Professor Alexander Chuchalin has quit his job after failing to block the registration of the Sputnik V vaccine.
• According to Chuchalin, the said drug is a “gross violation” of medical ethics.
• Other Russian health experts have likewise expressed skepticism towards the drug which is expected to be released within the month.

With Russia’s announcement of the world’s first vaccine against the novel coronavirus, numerous health experts have raised concerns over the safety and efficacy of the said cure. Many have pointed out that the drug in question has not even undergone the needed Phase III human trials before it received approval from the government.

Furthermore, a top Russian health official has quit his post after failing to block the registration of the Sputnik V. According to reports, Professor Alexander Chuchalin, the country’s top respiratory doctor, has officially resigned from the health ministry. He even described the Sputnik V as a “violation” of medicine ethics.

In a Daily Mail article, we read Professor Chuchalin questioning Gamaleya Research Center director Professor Alexander Gintsburg and virologist Professor Sergey Borosevich about the vaccine’ s safety.

Prof. Chuchalin said:

“Have you passed all the necessary paths approved by Russian Federation legislation and the international scientific community? Not!

“This job has not been done. Thus, one of the ethical principles of medicine has been grossly violated – to do no harm.”

So far, no published scientific articles about the vaccine has been made available to the public, although Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that one of his daughters has been vaccinated.

Respected virologist Alexander Chepurnov, who previously worked as a head of Vector Institute infectious diseases department, has likewise shared his concerns about Sputnik V, warning it may possibly lead to increased numbers of coronavirus cases.

“The danger is there in terms of the possibility of increasing the disease’s severity with the wrong vaccine. With some diseases —and for the coronavirus, this is already known that the infection can intensify with the presence of certain antibodies. So it should be known which antibodies the vaccine forms,” said Chepurnov.

Meanwhile, a “Doctor’s Handbook” survey involving 3,040 doctors and health specialists in Russia has shown that 52% are not willing to be vaccinated with Sputnik V while only around 24.5% are comfortable about receiving it.