Coronavirus live news: Portugal tightens restrictions; Mexico to buy 32m doses of potential Russian vaccine

Clea Skopeliti (now); Damien Gayle, Sarah Marsh, Alexandra Topping and Helen Sullivan(earlier)
Thu 10 Sep 2020 19.30 BST

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1h ago 18:06

Mexico to buy 32m doses of Russian coronavirus vaccine

Mexico has signed an agreement to buy 32m doses of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, with the intention of beginning distribution in November, according to reports.

The vaccine, the first to be approved anywhere in the world, has been in use in Russia since August. It was greeted with scepticism by some observers, who pointed out that it was approved despite not having completed phase 3 safety trials.

According to a report by Russia’s Tass news agency, deliveries are expected to start in November 2020, subject to approval by Mexico’s regulators.

Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, was quoted as saying:

We have agreed to deliver the large batch of Sputnik V vaccine to Mexico, which will help 25% of the Mexican population to receive access to the safe and effective vaccine.

Mexico received about 2,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine in August, for testing.

Updated at 6.31pm BST

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