Pakistan Approves Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine

Pakistan has approved the emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine.

According to details, the registration board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) in its 299th meeting on Friday, had granted ‘emergency use authorization’ (EUA) to the Russian vaccine.

According to the authorities, the first batch of the vaccine would reach Pakistan by the end of January.

Last week, the authority had approved Oxford–AstraZeneca and China’s Sinopharm vaccines for emergency use.

“A local pharmaceutical firm, AGP Limited, had applied for registration, marketing, and distribution of the vaccine in Pakistan,” the DRAP official said.

However, Pakistan is yet to receive any of the approved vaccines.

The Federal Cabinet on Jan. 5 approved the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect lives on an urgent basis.