Russia sets another pandemic high for coronavirus deaths
Moscow, Russia - Russia on Tuesday set another record for coronavirus-related deaths over a 24-hour period, despite efforts from authorities to slow a rampant third wave of infections.
A government tally reported 780 pandemic fatalities and 24,702 new cases.
Russia, the fifth worst-hit country in the world in terms of cases, has seen a wave of new infections over recent weeks, a surge exacerbated by a slow vaccine rollout.
Authorities have faced a vaccine-sceptic population, with an independent poll last week showing that 54 percent of Russians do not plan on getting a COVID-19 jab.
More Russians have however been getting vaccinated recently, particularly in the capital and epicentre of the country’s outbreak, Moscow, after authorities introduced mandatory jabs for most service industry workers, among other measures.
The Kremlin, however, has rejected mandatory vaccinations as well as suggestions of reimposing a nationwide lockdown.
As of Tuesday, just 13 per cent of Russia’s population of some 146mn people had been fully vaccinated, according to the Gogov website, which tallies COVID data from the regions.
With 144,492 deaths from the virus, Russia has the highest official death toll in Europe - even as authorities have been accused of downplaying the sever
ity of the country’s outbreak.
India to produce 300mn Sputnik V
The developers of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said on Tuesday a deal had been struck with Indian vaccine maker the Serum Institute to produce 300mn doses annually.
“The parties intend to produce over 300mn doses of the vaccine in India per year with the first batch expected in September 2021,” the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement.
Sputnik V was registered by
Russia in August last year - the first of four vaccines developed in the country - and the RDIF says it is approved for use in 67 countries.
Its hasty development and distribution for use ahead of late-stage trials meant the jab was initially greeted with scepticism.
Sputnik V has since won over experts, in a scientific and geopolitical victory for President Vladimir Putin, who announced late last month he had been inoculated with the vaccine.
Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of RDIF, described the deal with Serum as ‘a major step’ that would increase Sputnik V production capabilities and ultimately ‘save lives both in India and around the world’.
He said that technology transfer had begun and joint production was expected to start in the coming months.
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla said in the statement that since it had shown ‘high efficacy and a good safety profile, it is critical that the Sputnik vaccine is accessible in full measure for people across India and the world’.