Russian State Media: WHO to Deliver Final Evaluation of 'Sputnik V' Vaccine Around July

On the afternoon of the 4th, an employee is holding up the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V' produced at the Korea Chorus factory in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to make a final evaluation of the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V' around July.

On the 3rd (local time), the Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported this citing a WHO official. According to the report, Mariangela Simao, WHO Deputy Director-General, stated, "Our investigation team has already been in Russia for two weeks conducting an evaluation of the clinical trials," and added, "We plan to inspect the production sites from May 10 until the first week of June."

Deputy Director-General Simao introduced that the WHO investigation team plans to visit five facilities producing the Sputnik V vaccine, and during visits to two of these facilities, experts from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Union's regulatory body for medicines evaluation and supervision, will accompany them.

She anticipated, "Based on whether the experts find the clinical trials and production facilities meet essential standards, an evaluation of the (Sputnik V) vaccine will be made by the end of June, or more likely in July."

The Sputnik V vaccine is currently undergoing EMA rolling review and WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) evaluation stages.

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