[Church:] The United Kingdom will get early access to millions of vaccine doses. The British government announced a new partnership that has secured early access to more than 90 million vaccine doses. They will also get antibody treatments that neutralize COVID-19. The deal follows a global licensing agreement between AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford to research, develop and manufacture a vaccine for the public. Well, it is a race being run by countries all around the world. The scramble to find a coronavirus vaccine. Russia is no exception. Researchers in Moscow say they are on the brink of success. But their rapid progress is racing some serious questions. CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance joins us now live from Moscow with an exclusive report. Good to see you, Matthew. So, what are you learning about the serious questions being raised about how Russia has come so far, so quickly with its potential vaccine?
[Matthew Chance, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] Right. There are a lot of serious legal and ethical questions about that, but what Russian scientists say is that they're at the forefront of global efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine. They've reported rapid progress in human trials, and now Russian officials are telling CNN that they expect a virus to be in production, approved as early as next month, possibly possibly before anybody else can develop and produce an effective treatment. Well, those claims of vaccine success are emerging from one lab here in the center of Moscow. For the first time we can take you inside and give you an exclusive look at the kind of work that's under way there.
[Chance:] For Russia, the search for a coronavirus vaccine is a global race. It's at this research lab in Moscow where it hopes to win. Access to the Gamaleya Institute is tightly controlled. No CNN cameras were allowed through these doors, but they did give us exclusive footage of the sensitive scientific work taking place inside. A unique glimpse of Russia's rapid push for a coronavirus vaccine. They even sent recorded comments from their director who controversially injected himself before human trials officially began.
[Alexander Ginsburg, Director, Gamaleya Institute:] It has become a task of unprecedented complexity. In a very short time, we have to create a vaccine against this disease.
[Chance:] But that need for speed in Russia means corners may have been cut. Russian soldiers, all volunteers, according to the defense ministry, were used in the first phase of human trials. The now allegations denied by the Kremlin that Russian spies have been hacking U.S., British, and Canadian labs to steal their coronavirus secrets. Allegations also rejected by the head of the organization funding much of Russia's coronavirus research. Russia desperately needs to develop and wants to develop a vaccine. Isn't that one reason why the Kremlin would try and get ahead by stealing other nations' vaccine secrets?
[Kirill Dmitriev, Ceo, Russian Direct Investment Fund:] Well, first of all, Matthew, we are very surprised by the timing of this, because basically it happened the next day after we announced that we expect approval of our vaccine in August.
[Chance:] Sure. But how do you explain that extraordinary speed? I mean, other countries are working flat-out. Why would Russia be so far ahead? I mean, there are allegations, there are concerns that this country's been cutting corners when it comes to its research.
[Dmitriev:] Our vaccine is based on a proven vaccine platform. It was a vaccine against Ebola. It was a vaccine against MERS. And our scientists just substituted Ebola and MERS codes with the spike of the coronavirus.
[Chance:] Adjusting an old vaccine to work with the new coronavirus instead. Details remain sketchy, but it's that clinical strategy, not hacking, officials say, giving this Russian lab the edge. Rosemary, as a country with one of the highest numbers of coronavirus infections in the world, Russia is, of course, highly motivated to get their first and to find a vaccine for the disease. Latest figures just come through to us. More than 6,000 new infections reported in the past 24-hour period, bringing to just over 770,000 people who have confirmed with coronavirus in Russia alone. Rosemary?
[Church:] All right. Matthew Chance bringing us up to date on the situation there from Moscow. Many thanks. Well, confusion in Georgia at a time when clarity is needed. How Atlanta businesses find themselves in the middle of a political fight over which virus guidelines to follow. We'll have those details on the other side of the break. Stay with us.