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Coronavirus pandemic

Updated at:

Russia and UNICEF agree to supply Sputnik V vaccine

Supply to UNICEF will become possible after the vaccine is included in the list of products recommended by WHO for procurement in an emergency

© Yelena Afonina/TASS

MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have signed an agreement on the supply of 220 mln doses of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, the RDIF said in a statement.

"The agreement with UNICEF on the Sputnik V vaccine will expand access and meet the demand for vaccines around the world. Supply to UNICEF will become possible after the vaccine is included in the list of products recommended by WHO for procurement in an emergency," according to the statement.

Earlier, RDIF announced that it had applied to the WHO for registration and prequalification of Sputnik V in October 2020. A WHO decision is expected in the near future.

RDIF will also hold talks with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to discuss the possibility of including Sputnik V in the COVAX portfolio of coronavirus vaccines. The COVAX Mechanism (led by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and WHO) together with UNICEF aims to tackle the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2021 by providing fast and equal access to safe and effective vaccines to all countries and territories, regardless of their income level. This will ensure the protection of healthcare and social workers, as well as other high-risk groups.

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