Argentina Puts Faith in Russia Vaccine, With President First in Line
- Government plans to innoculate 10 million Argentines by Feb.
- Fernandez will be first to take it after approval by regulator
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Argentina said it has secured doses to begin administering Russia’s Sputnik vaccine before year-end and and that President Alberto Fernandez will be the first to take it.
The government is planning to give the shot to 10 million vulnerable Argentines before March, Fernandez said on Thursday, when his administration marks its one-year anniversary. There’s an option to boost the campaign with an additional 5 million doses in March, he said, adding that local regulators still need to approve the vaccine’s use.
Sputnik has been rolled out in Russia but hasn’t undergone local trials in Argentina. It hasn’t yet been adopted by many countries, unlike shots being produced by AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc.