MOSCOW – The developer of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine today said its shot has been approved for use in the Philippines, becoming the 52nd country to give the green light to the Russian jab.
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, which backed the development of Sputnik V, in a statement said the vaccine is registered “under the emergency use authorisation procedure”.
The Philippines announced this week that it plans to close its borders to foreigners beginning tomorrow and limit entry to its own citizens to halt the spread of Covid-19.
The temporary measures come after the number of daily cases hit a seven-month high on Monday.
Moscow’s wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said the announcement today means that now, 52 countries with a combined population of 1.4 billion people have approved Sputnik V for use.
Kirill Dmitriev, RDIF’s chief executive, in the statement said the Philippines is “among the first to show interest in the Sputnik V vaccine after it was registered in Russia”.
He added that the jab’s registration provides the Philippines “with access to one of the best vaccines, which is already saving lives around the world”.
Moscow registered the jab last August before large-scale clinical trials, but leading medical journal The Lancet has since said it is safe and over 90% effective.
Some Western countries have been wary of Sputnik V – named after the Soviet-era satellite – over concerns that the Kremlin will use it as a soft-power tool to advance its interests. – AFP, March 19, 2021
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