The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended the approval process for Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, with a regional official stating that the vaccine manufacturing process failed to meet the required standards.

Russia had applied for WHO approval for the vaccine in February but has not been granted an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) yet. According to the WHO, approval for the vaccine has been delayed until a new inspection can be conducted at one of the plants where the vaccine was manufactured. During a press briefing for the Pan American Health Organization, Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa, stated that during inspection of one of the plants where Sputnik V is manufactured, the plant was found not to be in agreement with the current best practices of manufacturing… (Euronews, September 19, 2021)