COVID-19: Kuwait unlikely to import Sputnik V

Cairo: Kuwait, which is struggling to limit an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, is unlikely to import the Russian-made vaccine Sputnik V, according to a media report.

“This vaccine has not been approved by the specialised global health organisations,” a source said. “All the vaccines are regularly examined by a competent committee at the [Kuwaiti] Health Ministry,” the source added. “The ministry will not import any vaccines of which there are no clear scientific studies on their clinical tests.”

Kuwait has already approved the use of three other COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna.

The first batch of the US-made Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive in Kuwait in the next few weeks, health sources said. The country has already taken delivery of shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. The increase in supplies will help expand Kuwait’s mass vaccinations against COVID-19.

In recent weeks, Kuwait has seen a surge in coronavirus infection rates, prompting authorities to introduce new restrictions.

Last week, the government extended a partial curfew, imposed last month to curb COVID-19 infections, until April 22, which coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The curfew was due to end on April 8. But the government said the curfew will be extended from April 8, till to April 22.

Kuwait, a country of around 4.7 million people, has so far registered a tally of 239,952 virus cases and 1,373 deaths.