Russian Sputnik V Vaccine For Domestic Only

Chief Executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev (Photo: Suwanti / Antara))

JAKARTA - The Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine called Sputnik V will only be provided for the domestic market, said Chief Executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev.

"Right now, our main focus is the fact that the production facilities located in Russia will be focused solely on the domestic market," said Dmitriev as quoted by Antara, Saturday, September 5.

"We will then develop partnerships with India and a number of other countries with a focus on external markets," said Dmitriev.

He added that the key thing that must be done now is to ensure the fulfillment of domestic vaccine needs.

Russia is developing Sputnik V, which was announced on August 11 that it has obtained regulatory permission from the government, with funding from RDIF and research run by the Gamaleya Research Institute.

"The key principle in the arrangement of cooperation with other countries, regarding the production of vaccines developed by Gamaleya, is focused on technology transfer," said the Director of the Gamaleya Institute, dr. Alexander Gintsburg.

This, according to Gintsburg, can only be implemented after the demand in Russia itself has been fully met, which takes up to a year if calculated based on a study of production capacity.

"Previously, we produced immunity for most of our people [...] which could probably be completed in 9-12 months. After that, then increase production capacity, maybe also start exporting vaccines to other countries," said Gintsburg.