COVID-19: Russia Releases 1st Batch of Vaccine Sputnik V into Public

The first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, developed by the Russian Gamaleya National Epidemiology and Microbiology Research Center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), has been released into civil circulation, regional deliveries are expected in the nearest future, reports Hindustan Times quotting the Russian Ministry of Health.

"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.

On 11 August, the Russian Ministry of Health registered the first Covid-19 vaccine, called Sputnik V.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin expressed hope that most residents of the Russian capital will be vaccinated against coronavirus in a few months time.

The delivery of the first lots of the Russian vaccine to the regions of the country is expected in the nearest future according to the health ministry.