Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Vaccinated with Sputnik V
This Sunday, Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) received the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, three days after President Alberto Fernández received his first dose, she reported on her Twitter account.
“At the Presidente PerĂłn Hospital in Avellaneda (outskirts of Buenos Aires), we’re vaccinating ourselves with Sputnik V. By doing it, I am not only taking care of myself, but I’m also taking care of others. Thanks to the health personnel for the enormous effort they’re making during this pandemic,” Kirchner, 67, wrote on the social media network.
The vice president also posted photos of the moment she was inoculated and the certificate she received.
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Fernández and Kirchner are among the first world leaders to receive the Sputnik V vaccine, of which Argentina has received 600 thousand doses since December and hopes to obtain 19.4 million more.
En el Hospital Presidente Perón de Avellaneda, vacunándonos con la Sputnik V. Haciéndolo, no solo me estoy cuidando, sino que también cuido a los demás.
Gracias al personal de salud por el enorme esfuerzo que están haciendo en esta pandemia. pic.twitter.com/skWhLgFXBp
— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) January 24, 2021
Outside of Russia, Argentina is the largest country that has begun vaccination with Sputnik V, which this week was approved by the local regulatory body for use with people over 60 years of age.
In a first phase, the Gamaleya laboratory vaccine was supplied to health personnel under 60 years of age.
With 44 million inhabitants, Argentina has reported more than 1.8 million COVID-19 cases and over 46 thousand deaths.
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The South American country has agreements for the provision of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine—although it has not yet received any—and with the COVAX mechanism of the World Health Organization (WHO). It also negotiated for the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech.
Sputnik V was approved in Russia last August, sparking international criticism over an announcement deemed premature, ahead of Phase 3 trials and the publication of scientific results.
According to the Russian sovereign wealth fund that sponsors the vaccine, Sputnik V is already authorized in Argentina, Bolivia, Algeria, the Palestinian territories, Venezuela, Paraguay, Belarus, Serbia, and Turkmenistan. Its approval was also requested before the European Medicines Agency, which must give an answer in February.
Featured image: The moment when the vice president of Argentina received her vaccination. Photo courtesy of @CFKArgentina.
Translation: OT/JRE/SL
