Sputnik V Vaccine Not Yet Approved: WHO Comments

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet been able to announce a final date for the registration of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. This was stated by Melita Vuinovich, a representative of the European regional office in Russia, according to TASS.

"We are not making any predictions at this point, but it can be said 'so far, so good,'" she noted.

Vuinovich emphasized that the vaccine registration process is the same for everyone. The documents submitted last autumn and this winter are currently under review, and after completion, on-site inspections are planned.

At the end of December, Hans Kluge, the head of the WHO European regional office, stated in an interview with TASS that he hopes the approval process for the Russian vaccine would be completed as soon as possible. Kluge denied that the prolonged approval process for the Russian vaccine has been politicized. He pointed out that the approval process is the same for all manufacturers who must meet the same standards as others.