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Around 1.5 million Russians have so far been vaccinated with Sputnik V, according to the newspaper Newspaper.
Once the country has completed the vaccination of the population, they want to offer the EU 100 million doses of the vaccine.
That is enough to vaccinate 50 million Europeans. Russia expects to be able to deliver the vaccine in the second quarter of 2021, writes Reuters.
Must be over 90 percent effective
The Sputnik vaccine is given in two doses three weeks apart.
It was developed by the research institute Gamaleja, which belongs to Russia’s Ministry of Health. According to the manufacturer, it has an efficiency of 91.4 percent.
The Sputnik V vaccine.
Photo: Thompson Reuters
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The vaccine is a so-called viral vector vaccine. It uses an altered version of a cold virus, which contains the gene for the spike protein in the coronavirus.
It is the same type as the vaccine from AstraZeneca, and has previously been used in Ebola vaccines.
Delayed
The EU signed a contract with AstraZeneca in August to purchase 400 million doses of their coronary vaccine.
The company states that they have production problems, and therefore are unable to deliver the vaccines as quickly as expected. There are intense meetings between the company and the EU.
Russia will now come to the aid of the EU, offering its vaccine to Europeans.
The EU Medicines Agency, EMA, has not yet approved the vaccine, but is considering it. It is expected that the EMA will take a position on the vaccine during February.
NRK’s Russia correspondent took the Sputnik vaccine last week.
To be produced in other countries
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova says according to Reuters that 8.7 million doses have been produced so far.
Since the offer to the EU only applies after Russia has finished its vaccination, the doses will probably be produced by partners in India, China, Brazil and South Korea, the state investment fund RDIF states.
Sputnik-V has so far been approved for use in 15 countries, among them the EU country Hungary. It has been used in Argentina, and Mexico has entered into an agreement to purchase 24 million doses.
Another 50 countries will be interested in the vaccine.
Russia has entered into agreements for the sale of over 500 million doses in 2021, but has encountered several delays.
RDIF has, among other things, announced delays of up to three weeks in South America.
– We are in the process of upgrading the facilities outside Russia to secure supplies to Argentina and the rest of the region. Then we will see a significant increase in production around the second quarter, it is said in a statement from RDIF.
Russia has, according to Reuters’ figures, exported just under 900,000 doses so far. Most have been sent to Argentina, which should actually receive 5 million doses in January.
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