The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said on 23 February 2021 that Mexico, the first country in North America to approve Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, has received its first batch of the vaccine, CNN reported on Tuesday.
In a statement, the RDIF said: "On 3 February 2021, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk of Mexico (COFEPRIS) approved Sputnik V under the emergency use authorisation procedure without additional clinical trials in the country."
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, said: "it is a significant breakthrough in Russia's efforts to fight COVID-19 and clearly shows that saving lives is above politics."
According to figures from the RDIF, which oversees global distribution and sales of the vaccine, Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine has now been approved for use in more than 30 countries and is one of the world's most pre-ordered vaccines, with at least 50 countries, from Argentina to the Philippines, ordering nearly 2.5 billion doses so far.
A tally by Johns Hopkins University has revealed that Mexico has the third highest death toll in the world, behind the US and Brazil, with more than 180,000 deaths.
Virbac expands presence in Japan with Sasaeah acquisition
Pfizer reveals strong efficacy data for ABRYSVO in older adults against RSV
US CDC advisory committee backs Valneva's chikungunya vaccine
Takeda and Biological E. Limited join forces to combat global dengue threat
SK bioscience 'SKYTyphoid' receives WHO prequalification certification
ImmunityBio advances cancer vaccine trial for Lynch syndrome participants
AstraZeneca boosts vaccine portfolio with acquisition of Icosavax
Ultimovacs gains EMA Orphan Drug status for UV1 cancer vaccine in mesothelioma