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Coronavirus pandemic

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine popularity in Serbia outshines rivals — envoy

The credibility of the Russian jab is 40% higher among the respondents, according to the ambassador

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine popularity in Serbia outshines rivals and continues to grow, Russian Ambassador to the Balkan country Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Tuesday.

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"The popularity of our Sputnik V vaccine is huge and continues growing," the envoy said. "I can give the figures available two or three weeks ago. The popularity [of Sputnik V] was 40% higher among the respondents. This is the highest indicator compared to other vaccines," the ambassador stressed.

Amid the Sputnik V vaccination campaign in Serbia, the issue of producing the preparation in the Balkan country is essential. A delegation of Russian specialists will arrive in Serbia to resolve this matter, the envoy said.

"Already on the 11th [of February], we are expecting a delegation that will consist of specialists and representatives of both the RDIF [Russian Direct Investment Fund, the vaccine sponsor] and the Gamaleya Institute [the developer of the Sputnik V vaccine]. I believe that over the three days of the delegation’s stay and intensive negotiations with the Serbian side in all the structures, the issue of where to produce [the vaccine], how to produce it and how long the process will take will be resolved," the Russian envoy said.

The vaccination campaign started in Serbia on December 24 last year. The US Pfizer vaccine, the Russian Sputnik V and the Chinese Sinopharm have been registered in the Balkan country.

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