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ARGENTINA | 22-07-2021 16:29

Government complains to Russia over Sputnik vaccine delivery delays

Argentina complains to Russia about delays in delivering second doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a letter warning of breach of contract repercussions.

The government has complained to Russia about delays in delivering second doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a letter warning of breach of contract repercussions, the Casa Rosda confirmed Thursday.

The letter, dated July 7, was sent to Russia's Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which financially backed Sputnik V, presidential adviser Cecilia Nicolini told reporters, confirming a report by La Nación newspaper.

In December, Argentina became the first Latin American country to approve the Sputnik vaccine, with the president and his deputy among the first to receive it in a public show of confidence. The letter said Argentina "urgently" needed delivery of second doses and warned that "the entire contract is at risk of being publicly cancelled."

Inoculation with Sputnik V, produced by Russian institute Gamaleya, requires two doses that differ from one another and cannot be swapped or mixed with other vaccines.

The letter said Argentina understood there had been "production difficulties." 

"But now, seven months later, we are still far behind, while we are starting to receive doses from other providers on a regular basis, with schedules that are met," it added.

"You are leaving us with very little options to continue fighting for you and this project!" it concludes.

Speaking Thursday, Nicolini played down reports of a dispute, saying that communication with Moscow is "constant" and "very good." The letter is not "a threat," she added.

The country of 45 million people had signed a deal with Russia for 30 million Sputnik V doses, of which it has received fewer than 12 million, according to Nicolini.

It has received 9.37 million doses of the first shot, but only 2.49 million of the second, meaning roughly 6.6 million citizens or foreign residents are awaiting a second jab.

According to reports on Thursday, only 493,000 doses of the first Sputnik component and 257,922 of the second dose remain in Argentina.

At the start of its vaccine campaign, Argentina sought to give a first dose to the largest number of people, to be followed three months later by the second.

Most people who received their first Sputnik V shot are still awaiting the second one more than three months later.

The government has in recent weeks sought to accelerate its vaccination driven in a bid to pre-empt a rise in infections driven by the highly-contagious Delta virus variant, not yet circulating in Argentina.

Argentina is also using the AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines, and recently received a donation of Moderna shots from the United States.

Just over 17 million Argentines have received a first shot of one of the vaccines, and fewer than six million have received two jabs.

The country has registered some 4.79 million coronavirus cases and nearly 103,000 deaths.

Russia registered Sputnik V last August ahead of large-scale clinical trials, prompting concern among experts over the fast-tracked process.

It has since been declared safe and over 90 percent effective in a report published by leading medical journal The Lancet, restoring confidence in Russia's jab. 

The RDIF has signed production agreements with several countries, including India, which is expected to produce several hundred million doses per year. 

The RDIF says its two-dose vaccine has been approved in 68 countries and that it has applied for registration in the European Union.

– TIMES/AFP

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