VGP - The first test batch of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus was successfully produced in Viet Nam, according to a joint statement of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and VABIOTECH, one of Viet Nam's leading pharmaceutical companies. 

The first validation samples taken from the produced batch will be shipped to the Gamaleya Center for the quality control.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health granted conditional approval of Sputnik V for emergency use on March 23, 2021, making it the second vaccine authorized by the ministry after AstraZeneca.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF said that RDIF and VABIOTECH are actively cooperating in the technology transfer process to provide easier access to Sputnik V for Vietnamese people.

Dr. Dat Tuan Do, President of VABIOTECH said that cooperation between RDIF and VABIOTECH will help provide quality and affordable COVID-19 vaccine for Viet Nam and other Southeast Asian countries.

To date, Sputnik V has been registered in 68 countries with a total population of over 3.7 billion people.  

Sputnik V is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors and uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots. 

Earlier, the Health Ministry sought partners with global vaccine producers in transferring knowhow in order to ensure vaccine security and future exports.

Vabiotech was selected to start producing Sputnik V vaccine in Viet Nam with a capacity of five million doses a month.

Lately, on July 15, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long sent a letter to RDIF to introduce T&T Group as the negotiator for the purchase of 40 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia.

The Health Ministry asked RDIF to create optimal conditions for T&T Group, a Ha Noi-based multifield corporation, to buy the vaccine doses right in July, thus meeting Viet Nam's urgent need in pandemic prevention and control.

Viet Nam targets to have 150 million doses this year to vaccinate 75% of its population.

Only 9 million doses have been received altogether since February, including the products of U.S., Russian, Chinese and British pharmaceutical companies. Altogether, Viet Nam has secured commitments for more than 120 million doses.

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