In this file photo taken on De. 15, 2020, a medical worker shows a vial with Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine against the new coronavirus disease during the vaccination of medics at a clinic in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. (Photo from Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — The initial batch of Sputnik V vaccines that were supposed to be delivered Wednesday, April 28, will instead be delivered on May 1, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine manager, said on the supposed delivery date.
Galvez said the delay in the delivery of the Sputnik V vaccines, developed by the Gamaleya Institute of Russia, was due to flight restrictions since there were no direct flights from Moscow to Manila.
“There were problems with the flights. Since there was a connecting flight from Moscow to the Philippines, we had difficulty getting them loaded,” Galvez said in Filipino.
The cold storage requirements of the vaccines also made it hard to transport them. Sputnik V should be stored in a dark place with a temperature not exceeding negative-18 degrees Celsius.
The first batch of the Russian vaccines will be distributed in Metro Manila.