Russia’s Sputnik V expands its reach in Latin America

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Nine Latin American countries have so far approved the use of the Sputnik V vaccine: Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Venezuela. Distribution of the vaccine has also begun in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The vaccine has been approved in 39 countries around the world, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is responsible for marketing the vaccine.

The Sputnik V vaccine has a cheaper list price and can be stored at higher temperatures than the Pfizer vaccine, which has made it attractive to Latin American countries with less developed economies and infrastructure. Two separate doses 21 days are required to be effective.

Argentina became the first Latin American country to distribute the Sputnik V vaccine in late December, with the purchase of up to 25 million doses. The country has already distributed more than 600,000 doses.

Since then, Venezuela and Mexico have received shipments of 100,000 and 200,000, respectively, in early February. Nicaragua began distributing the vaccine on March 2 after receiving a donation of an undisclosed dose amount.

While Russia struggles to keep up with demand, some countries have only received very small shipments. Bolivia received 20,000 doses of Sputnik V in January, although it expects enough to end the vaccination of 2.6 million people. Paraguay announced the purchase of one million doses, but so far has only received 4,000.

A nurse injects the Sputnik V vaccine into the first doctor as part of the vaccination plan against COVID-19 at El Alto North Hospital, Bolivia. (Photo by Gaston Brito / Getty Images)

Russia has acknowledged production pressure and has considered launching regional production centers in several countries, including Brazil, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Some interest has been expressed in producing the Sputnik V vaccine locally in Latin America. Recently, RDIF announced an agreement with Richmond Laboratories in Argentina to begin producing the vaccine in the country, although it has not yet provided a deadline for delivery.

Experts have repeatedly expressed concern about transparency over Sputnik’s tests and its accelerated authorization in Russia. However, the vaccine was found to be 91.6% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 and 100% effective against severe and moderate disease, in a provisional analysis of the results of the phase 3 test of the vaccine. published in The Lancet

Reports provided by Mitchell McCluskey in Atlanta, Stefano Pozzebon in Bogota, Tatiana Arias in Atlanta and Tim Lister in Spain.

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