The Brazilian health regulator Anvisa on Monday rejected importing the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine requested by state governors battling a deadly second wave of the virus that is battering Latin America's largest nation.

Anvisa's five-strong board voted unanimously not to approve the Russian vaccine after technical staff had highlighted "inherent risks" and "serious" defects, citing a lack of information guaranteeing its safety, quality and effectiveness.

Ana Carolina Moreira Marino Araujo, general manager for health monitoring, said that taking into account all the documentation presented, data acquired at in-person inspections and information from other regulators, "inherent risks" were too great.

A crucial issue was the presence in the vaccine of the adenovirus that could reproduce, a "serious" defect, according to Anvisa's medicines and biological products manager Gustavo Mendes.

The Sputnik V shot has been approved in several countries around the world. Russian scientists say it is 97.6% effective against COVID-19 in a "real-world" assessment based on data from 3.8 million people, Moscow's Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund said last week.

But, like Anvisa, the European Union has not yet approved the vaccine, saying it needs more information on the tests and manufacturing process.

Brazil's vaccination program has been blighted by delays and procurement failures, turning the country into one of the world's deadliest COVID-19 hotspots this year and pushing the national health system to the brink of collapse.

So far 27.3 million people in Brazil, equivalent to 13 per cent&nbsp;of the population, have received a first dose, according to health ministry data.

Brazil has registered 14.4 million confirmed cases of the virus and almost 400,000 deaths since the onset of the pandemic over a year ago, much of that in the last few months.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Brazilian health regulator Anvisa on Monday rejected importing the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine requested by state governors battling a deadly second wave of the virus that is battering Latin America's largest nation.

The Brazilian health regulator Anvisa on Monday rejected importing the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine requested by state governors battling a deadly second wave of the virus that is battering Latin America's largest nation. Anvisa's five-strong board voted unanimously not to approve the Russian vaccine after technical staff had highlighted "inherent risks" and "serious" defects, citing a lack of information guaranteeing its safety, quality and effectiveness. Ana Carolina Moreira Marino Araujo, general manager for health monitoring, said that taking into account all the documentation presented, data acquired at in-person inspections and information from other regulators, "inherent risks" were too great. A crucial issue was the presence in the vaccine of the adenovirus that could reproduce, a "serious" defect, according to Anvisa's medicines and biological products manager Gustavo Mendes. The Sputnik V shot has been approved in several countries around the world. Russian scientists say it is 97.6% effective against COVID-19 in a "real-world" assessment based on data from 3.8 million people, Moscow's Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund said last week. But, like Anvisa, the European Union has not yet approved the vaccine, saying it needs more information on the tests and manufacturing process. Brazil's vaccination program has been blighted by delays and procurement failures, turning the country into one of the world's deadliest COVID-19 hotspots this year and pushing the national health system to the brink of collapse. So far 27.3 million people in Brazil, equivalent to 13 per cent of the population, have received a first dose, according to health ministry data. Brazil has registered 14.4 million confirmed cases of the virus and almost 400,000 deaths since the onset of the pandemic over a year ago, much of that in the last few months. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: Brazil health regulator Anvisa rejects Russia's Sputnik vaccine

An Indian drugmaker has partnered with Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine developer on Friday to produce 200 million doses of the Russian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in a statement confirmed its partnership with Strides Pharma Science's unit Stelis Biopharma "to produce and supply a minimum of 200 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine". &nbsp;

RDIF also said that Stelin will work with the Russian wealth fund for further supplies "beyond the initial agreement".

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-kremlin-is-cutting-deals-to-ship-sputnik-v-369463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev said that the "significant vaccine volumes" that will be produced by Stelis "will help widen access to the vaccine on a global scale".

The deal follows similar agreements with Indian pharmaceutical firms Gland Pharma and Hetero to produce millions of doses of Sputnik V jabs.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-share-4-million-doses-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-with-mexico-canada-371635">US to share 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine with Mexico, Canada</a>

Sputnik V, named after the Soviet-era satellite, has been approved by 22 nations so far.&nbsp;

However, RDIF has said that 52 countries have approved the use of the Russian vaccine.&nbsp;

Moscow registered the vaccine in August last year before conducting large-scale clinical trials, but leading medical journal The Lancet has since said it is safe and has an efficacy of more than 90 per cent.

India is the world's biggest vaccine producer and currently supplying several countries with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

An Indian drugmaker has partnered with Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine developer on Friday to produce 200 million doses of the Russian coronavirus vaccine.

An Indian drugmaker has partnered with Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine developer on Friday to produce 200 million doses of the Russian coronavirus vaccine. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in a statement confirmed its partnership with Strides Pharma Science's unit Stelis Biopharma "to produce and supply a minimum of 200 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine". RDIF also said that Stelin will work with the Russian wealth fund for further supplies "beyond the initial agreement". Watch | RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev said that the "significant vaccine volumes" that will be produced by Stelis "will help widen access to the vaccine on a global scale". The deal follows similar agreements with Indian pharmaceutical firms Gland Pharma and Hetero to produce millions of doses of Sputnik V jabs. Also read | US to share 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine with Mexico, Canada Sputnik V, named after the Soviet-era satellite, has been approved by 22 nations so far. However, RDIF has said that 52 countries have approved the use of the Russian vaccine. Moscow registered the vaccine in August last year before conducting large-scale clinical trials, but leading medical journal The Lancet has since said it is safe and has an efficacy of more than 90 per cent. India is the world's biggest vaccine producer and currently supplying several countries with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses.

Indian drugmaker enters into partnership to produce 200 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine

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COVID-19: Brazil health regulator Anvisa rejects Russia's Sputnik vaccine

Indian drugmaker enters into partnership to produce 200 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine