MOSCOW, Nov 17 - President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for a joint effort by the BRICS countries on the development of the coronavirus vaccines as he suggested that Russia�s Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 could be produced in China and India, which are members of the five-nation bloc.
�We believe it is important to speed up the establishment of the centre for development and research of BRICS vaccines, which we agreed to do two years ago, upon the initiative of our South African friends,� Putin said while addressing the 12th BRICS summit via video conference.
The summit, hosted by Putin, was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
�The Russian Direct Investment Fund has reached agreements with its Brazilian and Indian partners on conducting clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine,� Putin said.
�It has also reached an agreement with pharmaceutical companies in China and India to launch production of the vaccine in these countries not just to cover their needs, but for third countries as well,� he added.
On August 11, Russia became the world�s first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute, while the RDIF is investing in the production and promotion of the vaccine abroad.
Another Russian vaccine, EpiCoronaVac, produced by Vector Research Centre, was registered in October. � PTI
