The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that the preliminary assessment of Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V was in the final stages, a team of inspectors will soon visit Russia, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said on 19 October.

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"WHO confirmed Sputnik V pre-qualification process is on track and entering its final stage. A group of WHO inspectors are due to visit Russia shortly to round up all necessary inspections and paperwork on #SputnikV, one of the world's safest & most efficient vaccines," the vaccine's Twitter says.

Sputnik V is approved in 70 countries with a total population of 4 billion people, which is more than 50 per cent of the world's population. Sputnik V ranks second in the world in terms of the number of approvals received by government regulators.