Any volunteers?

Courtesy of CNN:

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the approval of a coronavirus vaccine for use on Tuesday, claiming it as a “world first,” amid continued concern and unanswered questions over its safety and effectiveness.

“A vaccine against coronavirus has been registered for the first time in the world this morning,” Putin said on state TV. “I know that it works quite effectively, it forms a stable immunity.”

Putin added that one of his daughters had already taken it; he said she had a slightly higher temperature after each dose, but that: “Now she feels well.”

As it turns out even Russian scientists are skeptical.

Courtesy of the AP:

However, scientists in Russia and other countries sounded an alarm, saying that rushing to offer the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve tens of thousands of people — could backfire.

“Fast-tracked approval will not make Russia the leader in the (vaccine) race, it will just expose consumers of the vaccine to unnecessary danger,” Russia’s Association of Clinical Trials Organizations said Monday, urging government officials to postpone clearing the vaccine without completed advanced trials.

You can count me among the people who are unwilling to roll up my sleeve to receive a vaccine fast-tracked by Vladimir Putin. 

To be fair I would feel the same way about one fast-tracked by Donald Trump. 

No, I don’t even want to discuss possible vaccines until they have successfully navigated their Phase 3 trials and been used long enough to determine any unknown side effects. 

As I have said before I do not particularly like wearing masks but there are worse things to consider.