Moscow (Russia), February 16: Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila has accused Israel of preventing the delivery of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine doses to the Gaza Strip, the Palestine news agency (WAFA) reports.
Mai al-Kaila said that on Monday a Sputnik V shipment intended for health workers was sent to Gaza but Israel prevented it from reaching its destination.
The health minister stressed that such actions run contrary to all laws and international agreements.
Palestinian Authority was the first country in the Middle East to register Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. The coronavirus vaccination campaign in Palestine kicked off at the start of February, with medical personnel being the first in line.
A medical worker prepares to administer a second vaccination injection against the coronavirus disease as Israel continues its national vaccination drive, during a third national COVID-19 lockdown, at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) in Tel Aviv, Israel January 10, 2021
A recent peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet journal stated that Sputnik V, which was developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, showed 91.6 percent efficacy, based on Phase 3 clinical trial interim data. The vaccine, which is built on a human adenoviral vector platform, was registered by the Russian government on August 11.
Over 20 countries have already authorized the emergency use of Sputnik V.
Source: Sputnik