UAE, Second Foreign Country, To Hold Russian Vaccine Sputnik V’s Human Trials

Moscow: Russia announced on Monday that human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, had begun in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Kremlin in a statement informed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

In the phone call between the duo, “the importance of joint efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus was noted, including interaction on the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which is currently being clinically tested in the UAE,” the Kremlin said. Additionally, the leaders also “reaffirmed their mutual disposition to further strengthen the Russian-UAE strategic partnership in various fields.”

The UAE is the second foreign country to hold Sputnik V vaccine trials, after tests in Belarus, Reuters reported. Moreover, the trials are also set to start in Russian ally Venezuela in the coming days.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund, responsible for marketing the vaccine abroad, refused to comment, Reuters added.