“It’s a combination of some misunderstanding, some strong bias and, really, some very strong efforts to undermine the Russian vaccine." President Vladimir Putin has pushed the inoculation in calls with other world leaders since touting Russia’s approval of Sputnik V in August as the globe’s first Covid-19 vaccine. The contest for access carries echoes of the Cold War space race triggered by the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of the world’s first satellite, Sputnik, for which Russia’s vaccine is named. It wasn’t until Dec. 21 that neighboring Belarus became the first country outside Russia to approve Sputnik V, and Argentina followed two days later. (Updates with countries getting Sputnik V in 16th, 17th paragraphs)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Source: Mint December 31, 2020 12:35 UTC