A trial batch of the Russian Sрutnik V vaccine against the coronavirus has been manufactured in Belarus, Belarusian Health Minister Dmitry Pinevich told journalists on Friday.

Axar.az reports that this was reported by Russian media.

"Today is a landmark moment for all of us. We welcome you during an official launch of the localization of the Sрutnik V vaccine in the Republic of Belarus. A trial batch of the Russian Sрutnik V vaccine was produced," he noted.

"We fulfilled agreements of our presidents on joint counteraction to the spread of the infection. Inoculation now is an essential factor of the fight against the epidemic process," the health minister stated. He reiterated that Belarus is the first country after Russia to conduct clinical trials of this vaccine. "We were the first to register this vaccine and the first to launch inoculation with this vaccine beyond Russia’s borders. Our goal is to localize the production of this preparation using capacities of Belarusian enterprises," the minister stated.