Fauci urges caution on China and Russia COVID-19 vaccines

WASHINGTON: Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top infectious disease official, raised concerns on Friday (Jul 31) regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines under development by China and Russia. Several Chinese companies are at the forefront of the global vaccine race, while Russia has said it hopes to be the first in the world to produce a vaccine for the public, with a target date of September. But the medicines will likely face heightened scrutiny given that the regulatory systems in both countries are far more opaque than they are in the West. Fauci, who was asked during a Congressional hearing…