19 Jul 2021 15:44

Moscow studying Nicaragua's proposal on making Russian coronavirus vaccines - Lavrov

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - Russia is analyzing Nicaragua's request on granting it permission to manufacture the CoviVac coronavirus vaccine developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences' Chumakov Center and other Russian coronavirus vaccines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

"The Nicaraguan leadership proposed a couple of months ago that it launch the production of the CoviVac vaccine [developed] by the Chumakov Center on the basis of our Mechnikov joint venture," Lavrov told journalists following negotiations with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Mocada Colindres on Monday.

"This matter is not that simple, because the facility is designed to manufacture flu vaccines, and its capacities are fully engaged in manufacturing these very vaccines, which are shipped not only to Nicaragua, but also to Venezuela, Cuba, and Ecuador. This facility produces about 30 million doses of the vaccine during a flu epidemic season," he said.

"Another aspect is that the Chumakov Center's manufacturing capacity is not very substantial thus far, and the demand for this vaccine in the Russian Federation hasn't been fully satisfied yet," he said.

"Taking into account all these circumstances, we're studying the request on possibly launching the manufacturing of some Russian vaccine in Nicaragua," Lavrov said.

"I think there'll be clarity on the matter soon. Of course, we're absolutely in favor of this from the political standpoint," Lavrov said.