Trials of Russian COVID-19 Vaccine Start in Venezuela, President Maduro Says

Sputnik News

22:04 GMT 14.10.2020(updated 22:16 GMT 14.10.2020)

The first batch of Russia's Sputnik-V vaccine against the novel coronavirus was delivered to Venezuela in early October, and 2,000 volunteers have been selected to participate in the trials.

Trials of the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 have started in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro announced on Wednesday.

Earlier, media reported that the Venezuelan authorities were looking for volunteers to participate in tests of the vaccine. The government has been searching for 2,000 participants above the age of 18, with no tattoos on their arms and no exposure to respiratory diseases.

"When the vaccines are approved, we will produce them in Venezuela and we will vaccinate the entire population against the coronavirus", Maduro said earlier.

Venezuela became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to participate in Phase 3 clinical trials of Russia's Sputnik-V.

© Sputnik