Egypt to receive 25 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine
Egypt to receive 25 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine
Russia has clinched a deal that could supply Covid-19 vaccines for around a quarter of Egypt's population.
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The Sputnik V vaccine is currently being tested in a trial involving 40,000 people [Getty]
Russia will supply Egypt with 25 million doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, amid continued human trials on the immunisation treatment.
Russia’s RDIF sovereign wealth fund announced the deal on Wednesday, saying it had agreed to supply Egypt with the vaccine via Pharco, which it described as one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical groups.
“The agreement between RDIF and Pharco will help Egypt obtain an efficient and safe vaccine, Sputnik V, for almost 25% of its population,” RDIF chief executive Kirill Dmitriev said in a statement.
Russia raised concerns among Western scientists by approving its vaccine in August before full clinical trials were completed.
While the vaccine showed promising results in early trials, Russia has not yet completed the final phase of clinical testing, in which large numbers of people receive either the vaccine or a placebo.
Nevertheless, Russia has already vaccinated high-profile officials including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Putin has said that one of his daughters was vaccinated, suffering only a mild reaction.
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