Uzbekistan plans to certify the COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V and localize its production in the country, Deputy Health Minister Bakhodir Yusupaliyev said on Monday.
"Work is underway to quickly certify the Sputnik V vaccine, and talks are also underway to localize production of the vaccine in Uzbekistan," said Yusupaliyev, who was quoted by the Ministry of Health's press service in his Telegram channel.
The Deputy Minister of Health said that the Uzbek side developed a roadmap for the import, registration, preparation for vaccination and training of medical personnel to work with the vaccine "Sputnik V", which has been sent to the Russian Federation for signing.
According to the department, the Service for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of Uzbekistan maintains regular contact with the Russian Direct Investment Fund on the Sputnik V vaccine. In particular, local experts are studying the data received on the results of clinical trials on 12 thousand volunteers in Russia, information on the results of testing another 25 thousand volunteers in Russia is expected.
"Special tests and reagents are being requested to conduct laboratory tests on the suitability, safety and quality of this vaccine. After that, short-term tests will be conducted and a document on the use in the republic will be prepared," Yusupaliev added.
The authorities of the republic previously announced their intention to test vaccines from Russia, China and Turkey. In early December 2020, the press service of the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan reported that the country began the third stage of recombinant vaccine trials of Chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, in which 5,000 local volunteers are to participate. The term of the trials is 14 months.
Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov delivered 100 doses of Sputnik V to Tashkent in early December 2020. The samples were handed over to the Uzbek side for further testing necessary to pass registration and start industrial production of the vaccine in the republic. Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Vladimir Tyurdenev later told reporters that Russia would supply 1 million doses of Sputnik V to the republic for migrant workers, and a contract to supply a second Russian vaccine, Epivakkorona, is also expected in 2021.
Sputnik V was registered by the Russian Ministry of Health in August 2020 and was developed by the Gamaleya Research Center. This vaccine was the first in the world to prevent COVID-19. Sputnik V is based on a studied and proven platform of human adenoviral vectors, the important advantages of which are safety, efficacy and absence of long-term negative effects.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from RIA Novosti