Mexican production of Sputnik V vaccine likely by late June - health ministry (updated)
07/05/2021 17:39
(Adds details)
MEXICO CITY, May 7 (Reuters) - Production of Russia's
Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will likely begin in Mexico during
the final week of June, the Mexican health ministry said on
Friday as the government reviews its emergency use
authorization.
Specialists from health safety agency Cofepris will travel
to Moscow to "observe the Sputnik V technology transfer" in the
packaging of the vaccine, the ministry said in a statement. It
did not specify when the trip will take place.
The statement added that the invitation to visit Russia's
Gamaleya institute, where the Sputnik V vaccine was made, was
received on Friday.
Final packaging of the Russian-developed vaccine will take
place at installations of Mexico's Birmex state biological
laboratory, which earlier this week were inspected to verify
health and safety conditions.
Cofepris expects to carry out required testing of the
vaccine in late May, ahead of the emergency use authorization.
If approved as expected, Sputnik V will be the third
COVID-19 vaccine to be mass-produced in Mexico, following
China's CanSino and the U.K's AstraZeneca vaccines.
Cofepris will also evaluate the one-dose Sputnik Light
vaccine, including preliminary phase three trials, the statement
added.
(Reporting by Adriana Barrera; Editing by David Alire Garcia
and Dan Grebler)
((david.aliregarcia@thomsonreuters.com; +52 55 5282 7151;
Reuters Messaging:
david.aliregarcia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))