BUENOS AIRES, January 21. /TASS/. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has been inoculated with the first component of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the presidential press service reported on Thursday.

"President Alberto Fernandez received the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine," the statement said.

"The head of state confirmed safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and reiterated that it is his priority to make sure that the majority of Argentines receive vaccines as early as possible," the press service said. According to its data, the president received a shot of the Sputnik V preparation at the Alejandro Posadas National hospital in a suburb of Buenos Aires.

Sputnik V became the first vaccine against the coronavirus to arrive in Argentina. The Russian Direct Investment Fund and the government of Argentina signed a contract to deliver 10 mln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The first batch of 300,000 doses of the first component was delivered to the Latin American republic on December 24. On December 29, Argentina launched inoculation of healthcare workers with Sputnik V.

On January 20, the Argentine Health Ministry permitted to use the Russian preparation for inoculation of individuals over 60 years of age.