MOSCOW, March 5 (Bernama): Laos has authorised Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has announced.
"Laos has become the 44th country in the world to register Sputnik V. The vaccine was registered under the emergency use authorisation procedure," the RDIF said, according to Sputnik.
RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev noted that Sputnik V’s inclusion in Laos’ national vaccine portfolio was a "testament to the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine based on the well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors."
"We look forward to expanding our vaccine partnership with other Asian nations," he added.
The vaccine has been approved in Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, the UAE, Iran, the Republic of Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Montenegro, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Gabon, San Marino, Ghana, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, Egypt, Honduras, Guatemala, Moldova, Slovakia, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Laos will step up human resource development and cooperation with development partners to ensure the country is able to graduate from the Least Developed Country Category in 2026.
Laos was recommended for graduation with an extended 5-year preparatory period, effectively setting graduation in 2026, reports Xinhua news agency according to the local daily Vientiane Times.
This would occur following a positive and continued trajectory throughout the time period leading up to graduation under the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, said Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith during a recent triennial review of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Graduation from LDC status has been a long-term objective of the Lao government since 2000, through strong commitment and consistent progress in implementing National Socio-economic Development Plans. - Bernama
