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Coronavirus pandemic

San Marino launches inoculation with Russian Sputnik V vaccine

Twenty five medics will be administered the first shots, Secretary of State for Health and Social Security Roberto Ciavatta told a TASS correspondent

ROME, February 25. /TASS/. Inoculation with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine has started in the Republic of San Marino, an enclave on the Apennine Peninsula, Secretary of State for Health and Social Security Roberto Ciavatta told a TASS correspondent on Thursday.

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"We will administer first shots at 14:00 (16:00 Moscow time) to 25 medics," the official said. He pointed out that the vaccination is conducted on a voluntary basis. Vaccination won’t be a requirement for Italians who come to work in the republic either. They should get a vaccine in their own country, the official specified.

Initially, the republic’s authorities made an agreement with Italy for deliveries of vaccine doses proportionally to the number of the population. However, since December 27 when inoculation began in European countries, San Marino hasn’t received a single vaccine approved in the EU. First doses of the Russian preparation were delivered on February 23.

After supplies from Italy begin, San Marino plans to inoculate 400 people daily.

San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world with a territory of 61 square kilometers and population of slightly over 30,000 people. Italian is spoken in the republic and the EU currency is used but it is not part of the EU and officially does not depend on decisions of European institutions. In the issues of use of pharmaceuticals San Marino is usually guided by instructions of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but it can also make independent decisions in this sphere.

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