MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. All volunteers aged from 18 to 60, participating in the EpiVacCorona vaccine post-registration studies, have developed antibodies to COVID-19, Head of the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology’s Zoonotic Infections and Influenza Department Alexander Ryzhikov told TV Channel One.

"The first group of volunteers [aged from 18 to 60] showed 100% immunological efficacy, that is all vaccinated healthy individuals under the age of 60 had generated antibodies [to COVID-19]," he stated.

Ryzhikov noted that the immunological efficacy in the volunteers aged over 60 was slightly lower and amounted to 94%. "It's an excellent result for this age," the expert concluded.

On July 24, 2020, Russia’s Health Ministry authorized the Novosibirsk-based Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology to conduct the vaccine clinical trials on volunteers. The testing ended on September 30. On October 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Vector’s vaccine had been registered. On November 16, the Health Ministry granted permission for the EpiVacCorona post-registration studies on volunteers aged over 60 years and on November 18 - for testing on 3,000 volunteers.