Russia says it has successfully completed the first human clinical trials of a vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus. Researchers claim that the trials proved the drug’s safety and efficacy against the potentially deadly virus and say it could be distributed by mid-August.

According to Newsweek, the Russian vaccine is one of 160 potential candidates being developed and tested globally. Human trials began on Monday at The University of Queensland to test the Australian vaccine, while in the U.K., there are couple of vaccine candidates under trial. In the United States, Moderna completed enrollment for its second phase of testing for the mRNA-1273 vaccine.

Elena Smolyarchuk, the head and chief researcher at Russia’s Sechenov University’s Center for Clinical Research on Medications, said that their drug has been proven to be safe and effective. She added that the participants in the clinical trial will be medically monitored after they are released on July 15 and July 20, according to Newsweek.

The vaccine was developed at Russia’s Gamalei Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, and Newsweek reported that Alexander Gintsburg, who is the head of the institute, said he hoped the vaccine will be available to the public in mid-August.

According to Clinical Trials Arena, the vaccine was tested on small and large animals for toxicity, safety and effectiveness at the Russian Defense Ministry’s 48th Central Research Institute. Early results of the COVID-19 vaccine tests on Russian volunteers demonstrated that they were developing immunity to the virus, according to Forbes.