Belarus manufactures first validation batches of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine

The first validation batches of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine have been produced in Belarus, Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich told BelTA. The Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s pharmaceutical company Generium and Belarus’ major pharmaceutical company Belmedpreparaty are launching the production of Sputnik V, the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. The first validation batches of the vaccine were bottled using Russian technology at the Belmedpreparaty facilities. “The mass production of the vaccine will be launched after evaluating the stability of the first batches of the Sputnik V vaccine,” Dmitry Pinevich added.

In addition, RDIF and partners are testing the Sputnik V full-cycle production technology at facilities in Belarus. The release of the vaccine at Belmedpreparaty will fully meet the country's needs in a coronavirus vaccine. According to Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, RDIF and partners can help Belarus build up vaccine production capacities so that Belarus will manufacture enough vaccines to fully meet the domestic demand. After launching its own vaccine production, Belarus will be able to significantly increase the vaccination scale and avoid logistics costs.

Belarus became the first country outside Russia to officially authorize Sputnik V.