Argentina threatens to cancel deal for Sputnik vaccine as Russia fails to deliver

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Argentina threatens to cancel deal for Sputnik vaccine as Russia fails to deliver

Moscow owes 18.5m doses, leaving Argentina in a ‘very critical situation’ with only 12% fully vaccinated, leaked letter reveals

Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires
Thu 22 Jul 2021 19.39 BST

Argentina’s gamble on Sputnik V vaccine has left it in a “very critical situation” because of Russia’s failure to fulfill delivery commitments, according to an official letter to Moscow leaked on Thursday.

Russia owes Argentina 18.5m doses of its Sputnik V jab, over two-thirds of them vital second-component doses.

Only 12% of Argentinians are fully vaccinated so far, partly due to failed Sputnik deliveries of its second component. Another 37% have received only a single dose.

This compares disastrously with double-dose vaccination rates of over 60% in neighbouring Chile and Uruguay, countries that did not bet so heavily on the Russian vaccine.

Its low two-dose vaccination rate leaves Argentina particularly exposed to the arrival of the Delta variant. Neighbouring Uruguay, meanwhile, has already approved moving to a three-dose regimen.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jul/22/argentina-sputnik-vaccine-russia-fails-to-deliver

[peppertree]

1. It's an appeal for faster delivery of Sputnik-V doses, as it should be

They'd be remiss if they didn't press for faster delivery.

Developing countries (and even Europe) have had this same problem with most vaccine suppliers.

[Eugene]

2. Sputnik-V production has been problematic worldwide.

Sputnik-V is unique in using two different adenoviruses in the doses, and that 2nd dose has been hard to mass produce. The OP also notes corruption in Sputnik-V's distribution chain.

Argentina went all in on Sputnik-V, but now they are falling back on the Moderna vaccine, after banning its import previously.

[peppertree]

3. True - although Argentina has had three major suppliers (not just Sputnik):

Of the 40.7 million doses received so far, 13.7 m have been Sinopharm (not Sinovac - the less effective one Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay have been relying on); 11.9 m, Sputnik; 11.7 m, AstraZeneca; and 3.5 m, Moderna (with Pfizer on its way).

Their goal is 63 million, so they still have a ways to go.

Sputnik was the first in Argentina, due to Trump's export ban (and Pfizer's sovereign asset collateral demands) - but has since been eclipsed by these others.

As you pointed out, it also has that problematic 2nd dose - though numerous countries that have received Pfizer have likewise had to combine it with a different 2nd dose for the same reason: availability.

Excluding major vaccine producers (and those who got preferential treatment from Trump very early on - i.e. Israel and the UAE), most countries have faced that same bottleneck.

Thanks for your insightful and informed reply, Eugene (as always). Good chatting again.