Russia may initiate COVID-19 vaccine trial in Arab countries

Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), listens during a panel session on day three of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, June 4, 2021 [Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), disclosed on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) that the RDIF may start testing a combination of the Sputnik V and a Chinese vaccine in Arab countries.

“We have received many requests from other manufacturers, including the China vaccines, for conducting joint trials. These are the big manufacturers, and it may be that we will start the first trials in Arab countries combining Sputnik with a number of Chinese vaccines,” announced Dmitriev in a press statement issued during the SPIEF on Friday.

Dmitriev expressed his confidence that Sputnik V will soon be approved for international travel, stating: “We have no doubt that Sputnik V will soon be authorised for travel to most countries. The 3.2 billion people living in the countries that have approved our vaccine for use cannot be ignored.”

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