First doses of Russian vaccine Sputink V arrive in Argentina

The first 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine arrived in Buenos Aires on Thursday on a flight from Russia to be distributed throughout the country as part of the vaccination campaign against the new coronavirus.

The plane, which was carrying about eight tonnes of the vaccine, landed at around 10:30 in the morning at the Ezeiza international airport, on the outskirts of the capital.

Argentina is the first country in Latin America where Sputnik V will be distributed. The packages with the product were unloaded on the track and transported in refrigerated trucks at -18 degrees Celsius to a warehouse.

The vaccination campaign will begin next week, with a specific date yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Ginés González García, said that five million doses will arrive in January and more than 14 million in February with the possibility of expanding the amount by another five million.

The vaccine will go first to health personnel.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been met with skepticism internationally as it has only been tested on a few dozen people.

"There is only one step left within the Russian Ministry for it to be approved," said González García, who noted that Argentina will begin to vaccinate those over 60 when those of that age group are vaccinated in Russia.