Russia sends proposals to PH gov’t for Covid-19 vaccine

RUSSIA’S envoy to the Philippines said their government is ready to work closely with the Philippine government should it opt to use Russian-made vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev, during a virtual presser with Philippine journalists on Friday, August 7, 2020, said the Russian-made vaccine made by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

According to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), it has entered a joint venture with R-Pharm Group “to combat coronavirus infection and produce the first Russian vaccine with high export potential.” Investment for the projects of the joint venture is estimated to be at four billion Russian Rubles or around P2.6 billion.

“The development of a vaccine is another area of our work and a very ambitious project. The vaccine being developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology seems to be the most promising Russian vaccine in many respects. We expect that after the development is completed, the vaccine will be produced at R-Pharm’s new plant in Yaroslavl, which we will open together with RDIF,” said Alexey Repik, Chairman of the Board of R-Pharm Group.

Russian news agency TASS reported that Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev said the country is planning to produce 30 million doses in Russia and 200 million to be manufactured globally if tests are successful at the end of the year.

Khovaev said the Russian Federation is ready to share all these new technologies to interested parties.

“The Russian side is ready to closely cooperate with the Philippines,” he said.

Khovaev said their government is currently completing necessary documents and will be ready by mid-August.

“After that, the Russian investment facilities will be ready to prepare all necessary condiUNLESS tions to launch the mass production of Russian vaccines,” he said.

Khovaev said the Philippines and Russia can cooperate in three ways when it comes to the Covid-19 vaccine.

“First is clinical trials if our Philippine partners consider it necessary. Second option is we are ready to supply vaccine to the Philippines, and the third is local production of vaccine here on Philippine soil,” he said.

Khovaev added, “We already submitted our proposals to our Philippine partners. Our proposals are now under consideration.” /