Venezuela to Use Russian, Chinese Coronavirus Vaccines

By Dana Cruz Oct 21 2020, 03:57 AM EDT

Venezuelan Migrants Stranded in Bogota as Maduro Restricts Returns During Coronavirus Pandemic — Bogota's Mayor health personnel vaccinates a Venezuelan migrant woman in front of an encampment where jobless and homeless migrants are camping during the coronavirus pandemic on June 12, 2020 in Bogota, Colombia. Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images

Venezuela is planning to use Russian and Chinese vaccines for its citizens, said President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday.

The Russian and Chinese vaccines are expected to reach Venezuela, and other parts of South America in December or January, reported the Reuters.

The announcement was made through a live broadcast on Venezuela television. He said in the recent announcement that the Russian and Chinese vaccines would arrive in the stated period.

From that point on, they will start the vaccination of their citizens. He added that older people and those with pre-existing conditions would be prioritized. Maduro also assured that all Venezuelans would receive the vaccination.

Russian, Chinese Vaccines in Venezuela

According to Venezualanalysis, Venezuela was the first Latin American nation to be part of the Russian clinical trials.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez first introduced the country's involvement in the Russian trials.

Upon the medical cargo's arrival early this month, it was said there would be 2,000 citizens participating during the phase three vaccine trials.

The president confirmed this on October 14, saying volunteers were selected last week as the Russian Sputnik V trials were underway. It is just the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine that reached Venezuela.

In September, Maduro proposed to administer the vaccine to nearly 15,000 candidates in the coming legislative elections. He argued that the proposal was made to ensure that candidates can campaign safely.

Maduro also announced early this month that both his son and elder sister would take part in the clinical trials.

The Sputnik V vaccine was given regulatory approval and license in August, only after less than two months of human testing.

It was seen as an achievement in Moscow, but several experts have questioned the merits of the vaccine.

Despite this, Russia is confident that its COVID-19 vaccine can shoulder some legal liabilities if anything goes wrong.

Buyers won't be required to take on the full risk with the head of the state fund bankrolling the project.

The country has shown strengthening diplomatic ties with Russia recently. It is amid the aggressive sanctions program that the U.S. meant to force Maduro from office.

Russian News Agency Tass added that Venezuela would also receive "a few thousand doses of the Chinese vaccine."

Sputnik V was the first registered coronavirus vaccine in the world. Its clinical trials were passed in June and July.

The Russian Health Ministry said that judging by the experience of using vaccines, they can provide long-term immunity for up to two years.

Vaccination Plans for Venezuela

Maduro also outlined plans once the third part of the clinical trials for both the Russian and Chinese vaccines have been finished.

He said the country would first obtain permits from the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization.

Maduro believes these permits can come by April, but he also added that he'd been told it could be earlier.

There are currently over 87,000 coronavirus cases in Venezuela, matched by 747 deaths, according to official data. But medical associations said the number of infections might be higher.