Belarus and Argentina Begin Vaccination with 'Sputnik V'... "First Outside Russia"

Priority Vaccination Begins for Medical Staff, Teachers, and Others with Frequent Contact
Concerns Raised About Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

On the 29th (local time), a woman is receiving the Russian-developed COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V' at Fiorito Hospital located in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Argentine authorities began prioritizing vaccination for healthcare workers, teachers, and others who have frequent contact with people starting on this day. Avellaneda (Argentina) = EPA·Yonhap [Image source=EPA Yonhap]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Taemin] Vaccinations with 'Sputnik V,' a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine developed by Russia, have begun in Belarus and Argentina. These countries are the first outside Russia to administer this vaccine.

On the 29th (local time), according to AP News and others, the Ministries of Health of Belarus and Russia announced in a joint statement that Sputnik V vaccinations had started in Belarus. Dmitry Pinevich, Belarus's Minister of Health, said, "We plan to prioritize vaccination for those who have frequent contact with others, such as medical personnel and teachers," adding, "Vaccination will be given only to those who wish to receive it."

On the same day, Argentina also began administering Sputnik V. Argentine health authorities stated that they plan to provide the vaccine free of charge, prioritizing healthcare workers, teachers, and citizens aged 60 and over. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez referred to this as the largest vaccination campaign since modern times.

Both Belarus and Argentina quickly approved the use of Sputnik V. Belarus conducted its own clinical trial on 100 volunteers and officially authorized its use on the 21st, and two days later, Argentina also approved the vaccination.

In Argentina's case, on the 24th, it secured 300,000 doses of the first vaccination from Russia. The Sputnik V vaccine requires two doses administered 21 days apart. Unlike most other vaccines, which use the same vaccine for both the first and second doses, Sputnik V uses different vaccines for each dose. Russian officials stated that the vaccine required for the second dose is expected to arrive in Argentina in January. Additionally, on the 23rd, Argentina signed a supply contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which supported the development of Sputnik V, for 10 million doses.

Sputnik V remains a vaccine with ongoing debates regarding its efficacy and safety. Unlike the usual vaccine development process, it was approved immediately after phases 1 and 2 clinical trials without undergoing phase 3 trials.

Concerns have been raised within Argentina about the introduction of this vaccine. Opposition parties have demanded the grounds for the health authorities' approval of the vaccination. To quell these controversies, government officials, including Axel Kicillof, Governor of Buenos Aires Province, reportedly took the vaccine themselves, according to foreign media reports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.