The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Wednesday

Russia has signed contracts to supply Bolivia and Algeria with its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the country’s sovereign wealth fund has announced. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Wednesday the agreement would make it possible for more than 20 percent of Bolivia’s population to access the vaccine, which is administered in two doses. Russia admits COVID death toll third-worst in the world Argentina begins COVID vaccine campaign with Russian shots Sputnik V: What to know about the Russian vaccine, in 500 words Supply would be facilitated by the Russian fund’s international partners in India, China, South Korea and other countries. Bolivia’s population is 11.35 million and 20 percent would be 2.27 million people. The development marks the South American nation’s first major vaccine deal. Bolivian President Luis Arce said Russia would send 6,000 doses, meaning 3,000 treatments, in January to vaccinate its most vulnerable populations, 1.7 million doses by the end of March and the rest “between April and May”. In another international deal, the RDIF, which funds the vaccine, on Thursday announced it had signed an agreement to supply Algeria with Sputnik V. However, the RDIF did not say how many doses had been agreed. Algeria has said it plans to begin its vaccination campaign in January, and that the shots will be free for its citizens. The Sputnik V vaccine is 91.4 percent effective at protecting people from COVID-19, based on interim late-stage trial results. The Bolivia deal is the latest sign the Russian vaccine is making inroads in Latin American nations eager for more immunisation capacity, including neighbouring Argentina and Venezuela. On Monday, Reuters news agency reported that Russia’s first big international shipment of its vaccine last week – 300,000 doses sent to Argentina – consisted only of the first dose, which is easier to make than the second dose. To date, more than 50 countries have made requests for more than 1.2 billion doses of Sputnik V, according to RDIF.