On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a joint effort by the BRICS countries on the development of the coronavirus vaccines as he suggested that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 could be produced in China and India, which are members of the five-nation bloc.
While addressing the conference he said: “We believe it is important to speed up the establishment of the centre for development and research of BRICS vaccines, which we agreed to do two years ago, upon the initiative of our South African friends.”
Mr Putin said that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine that was registered in August could be produced in China and India, both members of the BRICS, Sputniknews reported.
He said: “The Russian Direct Investment Fund has reached agreements with its Brazilian and Indian partners on conducting clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine, it has also reached an agreement with pharmaceutical companies in China and India to launch production of the vaccine in these countries not just to cover their needs, but for third countries as well.”
Putin also proposed that the creation of a vaccine research centre for BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – be sped up, TASS reported.
