Bangladesh approves emergency use of Russian vaccine Sputnik V

File labelled “Sputnik V coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine”, March 24, 2021. REUTERS

Online desk: Bangladesh authorities on Tuesday approved Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use authorisation.

‘We’ve approved the emergency use authorisation of Sputnik V,’ said Directorate General of Drug Administration director general Major General Mahbubur Rahman.

Talking to reporters at his office, he said another vaccine of Chinese firm Sinopharm was also in active consideration.

He said that they expected about 40 lakh vaccine of Sputnik V would arrive in the country by May.

The decision came amid the vaccine shortage in Bangladesh after India denied Bangladesh to supply Oxford-AstraZeneca developed vaccine manufactured at Serum Institute of India.