Russian Health Minister Discusses "Sputnik V Certification" with WHO Director-General

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chunhan] Russia is accelerating the World Health Organization (WHO) certification process for its domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, 'Sputnik V.'

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus discussed the emergency use authorization process for Sputnik V through a video conference, Russian state-run TASS news agency reported on the 6th (local time).

The Russian Ministry of Health stated that during the meeting, both sides addressed measures to respond to virus spread, including mass vaccination, improving public health, and enhancing access to treatment. The ministry also added that they discussed the inclusion of the Sputnik V vaccine on the WHO Emergency Use Listing.

The Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, under the Ministry of Health, had already submitted documents requesting vaccine certification to the WHO in December last year. Countries with pharmaceutical approval agencies approve COVID-19 vaccines through their own procedures, but in underdeveloped countries without such agencies, vaccines can be imported and distributed based on WHO certification. Minister Murashko said, "There have been no serious side effects from this vaccine, and it has become a global bestseller."

In January, the Ministry of Health explained to domestic media, "Expert consultations on the review results of the documents (submitted by Russia) will take place within January," and added, "We expect WHO's decision (certification) in the first half of this year."

Meanwhile, the WHO first certified the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer of the United States and BioNTech of Germany on December 31 last year. In February, the WHO also approved the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine from multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

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