The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, explained the reason why Venezuela will vaccinate its population with the Russian Sputnik V.
Through the state TV network, the head of state commented that the Russian vaccine is the most effective against COVID-19, providing over 96 percent immunization after two doses. In addition it has not presented any complications, and is the safest and most reliable vaccine.
President Maduro recalled that Venezuela has already reached an agreement with Russia for the supply of ten million doses of the Russian vaccine, to begin a vaccination campaign in March or April 2021.
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He added that in the case of Venezuela, only Sputnik V will be used, at first, because the total blockade imposed by the United States and the European Union against Venezuelans prevents access to other vaccines.
Previously the Venezuelan president stressed that the Caribbean country was also going to use the Chinese (Sinovac) and the Cuban (Soberana I) vaccines.
In addition, he recalled that Venezuela’s funds for purchase of different types of vaccine have been frozen or stolen by the governments and financial institutions of England, the United States, Spain and Portugal, who refuse to return them to the Venezuelan people to access medical treatments.
“They have frozen and stolen the money for Venezuela to access the vaccine,” said Maduro. “We have asked them to give us funds to access the vaccine through the World Health Organization and they have refused. So I denounce them. We reject the geopolitical, hegemonic and mercantilist treatment of the vaccine, and of all the elements for the cure of the coronavirus.”
The Venezuelan president stressed that his government has “done everything possible” to get ahead in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic amid the total blockade, with which they have tried to subdue Venezuela.
“The voice of Venezuela is here to tell these great truths,” said Maduro.
Featured image: File Photo – 300,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Russia, on December 24, 2020.
Translation: OT/JRE/SL
