Coronavirus: First batch of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’ released into masses

According to Russian researchers, Sputnik V is a human adenoviral vector vaccine which fights the coronavirus disease.

Moscow: The first batch of Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus, developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has been released into civil circulation, regional deliveries are planned in the nearest future, the Russian Health ministry informed.

"The first batch of the 'Gam-COVID-Vac' (Sputnik V) vaccine for the prevention of the new coronavirus infection, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, has passed the necessary quality tests in the laboratories of Roszdravnadzor (medical device regulator) and has been released into civil circulation," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian health ministry registered the first vaccine against COVID-19, named Sputnik V, on August 11.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin expressed hope on Sunday that the majority of the Russian capital's residents will be vaccinated against the coronavirus within several months.

According to the health ministry, the delivery of the first batch of the Russian vaccine to the country's regions is planned in the nearest future.

Meanwhile, the clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine for coronavirus will be held this month in several countries including India, confirmed Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Monday (September 7).

Dmitriev said that the clinical trials in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, India and Brazil will begin this month.

Russia was in close dialogue with the Indian government and the leading drug manufacturers in the country regarding the localization of production of Sputnik V vaccine in India.