The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has confirmed that the Sputnik V vaccine being administered by a private health facility is in the Country legally.

PPB said it cleared the private company to import the vaccine into the country after sourcing it from Russia, an initial consignment that landed in the country last week.

The board which is headed by chairman Jackson Kioko insists the importation could not have happened without the knowledge of the Ministry of Health headed by Mutahi Kagwe.

This comes a day after Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi confirmed that Sputnik V had received Emergency Use Authorisation paving way for its use in specific private facilities.

Dr Mwangangi told citizen tv that the health Ministry would assess and approve more vaccination centers for the Russia-made jab with 92 per cent efficacy in the next week.

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Sputnik V. PHOTO/COURTESY

There was confusion over the importation and administering of the jab after MoH initially denounced it since it had not gotten the approval of the World Health organization (WHO).

Later, acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth told Parliament’s Health Committee that Sputnik V could be used in the country as long as more stringent measures were met.

However, the ministry two days ago refused to disclose who the local importers of the Russian vaccine were amid rising concerns over how it was being marketed and distributed locally.

But amid the drama, Deputy President William Ruto, his wife Rachel alongside lawyers Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Donald Kipkorir this week publicised on their social media when they received the infamous Russian vaccine, which retals at Sh11,000 for the two doses.