Sputnik V COVID vaccine may get WHO approval by year end, says Chief Scientist

Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine might be approved by World Health Organization (WHO) before end of year if Moscow signs appropriate legal documents in coming days, according to WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan, Sputnik reported.

"Before procedure (WHO examination of Russian vaccine) can continue, both parties must sign some legal documents, and I believe this is where we are today. Russian authorities have informed us that se documents will be signed soon, and that once y are, dossier examination will resume, dialogue will resume, and inspections will be scheduled," Sputnik reported citing Swaminathan.

 According to scientist, WHO hopes to deploy its experts to Russia as soon as possible to evaluate manufacturing plants.

"If all of this happens (papers are signed) within next few days, process will restart, and it's quite likely that inspection will take place before end of year, and process will be done," Swaminathan said.

WHO reported a number of issues at Pharmstandard Ufa Vitamin Plant in June

Following a series of issues with dossier, World Health Organization h said earlier on October 7, that it was going to recommence process of licencing Russia's Sputnik V COVID vaccine. According to an AFP report, WHO approval is being sought for Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya scientific institute, which is alrey being used in 45 nations. WHO reported in June that it h performed nine inspections of Sputnik V manufacturing locations and found a number of issues at Pharmstandard Ufa Vitamin Plant in Ufa, sourn Russia. Algeria, Argentina, India, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Russia are among nations that have alrey opted Sputnik V.

Pfizer-BioNTech, Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca in various plants have all been given green light by WHO for emergency usage during pandemic. WHO emergency use designation provides assurance to countries, funders, procuring agencies, and communities that a vaccination has met international requirements. listing allows countries, particularly those without ir own international-class regulator, to quickly authorise and import a vaccine for distribution.

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