Venezuela gets shipment of Russia-made Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine

A shipment of the Russian-made Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine has been delivered to Venezuela, allowing the Central American nation to take part in clinical trials of the vaccine, says Venezuelan vice president.

"This cooperation for the Sputnik-V vaccine was the result of the permanent contact, the meetings, the close cooperation that exists between Venezuela and Russia," Vice President Delcy Rodriguez declared in a televised statement on Friday.

The delivery marks the first in Latin America, but Rodriquez did not reveal the number of vaccines in the shipment.

Venezuela’s Health Minister Carlos Alvarado, however, stated that 2,000 people will participate in a trial that commences later this month in the nation’s capital of Caracas.

The development came after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed last month that the Russian COVID-19 vaccines be administered to nearly 15,000 candidates in the upcoming legislative polls so that they can campaign safely.

Caracas has expanded its diplomatic ties with Moscow in the face of a brutal sanctions program imposed by Washington in its declared bid to oust the elected government of President Maduro.

MG