OREANDA-NEWS. The first batch of the coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has been released into civil circulation, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Health reported. The supply of the drug to the regions of the country will begin in the near future. Earlier, the head of the Ministry, Mikhail Murashko, said that vaccination of people would begin this week.

“The first batch of vaccine for the prevention of a new coronavirus infection… passed the necessary quality tests in the laboratories of the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare and was released into civil circulation. In the near future, the delivery of the first batches of vaccine to the regions is expected,” the Health Ministry’s statement says.

On August 11, Russia was the first in the world to register a vaccine against COVID-19. The Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology informed that vaccination of most of the Russian residents can take place within 9–12 months.