BELGRADE, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Serbia plans to begin laboratory testing of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine towards the coronavirus and it’ll additionally proceed talks with drugmaker Pfizer Inc about buying its shot, the nation’s prime minister mentioned on Monday.

Russia will ship 20 doses of its vaccine to Serbia for laboratory testing by the top of the week, the workplace of Prime Minister Ana Brnabic mentioned in an announcement after talking through videoconference with Russia’s commerce and trade minister Denis Manturov.

“Serbia is eager about … a chance of a joint manufacturing of the vaccine,” the assertion mentioned.

Russia has mentioned interim trial outcomes present its vaccine to be 92% efficient at defending individuals from COVID-19.

The assertion additionally mentioned Brnabic will proceed talks with Pfizer on Tuesday. It supplied no additional particulars.

Earlier than Serbia adopts any vaccine, it should be permitted by the nation’s Medicines and Medical Units Company.

To date 175,438 individuals have fallen sick with COVID-19 in Serbia, which has a inhabitants of seven.2 million, and 1,604 have died from it. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade Enhancing by Matthew Lewis)