Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) head expects that the World Health Organization will approve Sputnik V for emergency use in the next few months.
The World Health Organization has approved a few COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use since the start of the pandemic. But, the Sputnik V jab from Russia is not one of them, despite having authorisation in over 70 countries around the globe.
Earlier in July, the global health agency stated that it had found some issues with the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly in how Russia produces them. As explained, the concerns involved the “filling of vials at one plant.”
The manufacturer then revealed that it had since addressed all of the matter with the WHO. Weeks later, though, the U.N. body stated that the emergency use approval was put on hold over “some missing data.” But, on Wednesday, it said that it has restarted the assessment process, according to Reuters.
WHO is still assessing the COVID-19 vaccine
The World Health Organization released an update about its assessment of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. On its official website, it stated that officials are “still assessing” the jabs for emergency use.
In emailed comments to the publication, the global health agency reiterated that it continues to assess the vaccines “from different manufacturing sites,” adding that it occurs as with other vaccine candidates. The WHO also pointed out that it will publish decisions upon the conclusion of the review.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which promotes the Russian vaccine outside the country, later on, said that WHO inspectors will visit Russia “to round up” paperwork and inspections. This comes after the health agency asserted that it is still waiting for the “completing of rolling submission.”
Russia is ready to provide
Last week, the head of RDIF announced that Russia is ready to provide millions of Sputnik V doses to COVAX. Kirill Dmitriev stated that up to 300 million shots “will be made available” to the U.N.-backed program upon receiving approval from the WHO.
Speaking to The Associated Press, the RDIF CEO shared what his expectations were about the matter. He said that he anticipates for the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) authorisation to come in the next two months.
The publication reported, however, that the RFID official and the WHO had “different takes” on Sputnik V’s approval for emergency use. As asserted, the health agency would not make commitments to the given timetable, adding that the approval process was “on hold.”
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