Palestine to Receive 1st Batch of Russian "Sputnik V" Vaccine

The Palestinian Health Minister Mai Alkaila announced Today that authorities will receive 10,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine enough to cover 5,000 people, according to alarabiya.net report.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, launched a vaccination campaign after a small delivery of doses from Israel.

Last month, the Palestinian health ministry approved the main Russian vaccine against COVID-19, known as Sputnik V, for use in Palestinian self-ruled territory, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund said.

The first batch of Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V is a donation from Russia and will arrive in Palestine within two days, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Russian Federation Abdel Hafiz Nofal reported.

“The first batch will be 5,000 vaccines,” Nofal said, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will start talks with Russia on purchasing 100,000 vaccines that will arrive in Palestine in February. Noteworthy, Palestine recorded 178,001 COVID-19 cases , including 2,001 deaths and 166,961 recoveries.