DISINFO: The EU’s vaccine strategy is clearly political and focuses on profits of Western companies
SUMMARY
The strategy the European Union currently uses for the acquirement of COVID-19 vaccines is clearly political. It is also about profits – if Sputnik V vaccinations were taking place, the Pfizer vaccine would not be used as much which would result in lower profits for the Western company.
Those who question the quality of Sputnik V just because it originates in Russia are simply stupid.
RESPONSE
Following the development of vaccines against COVID-19, pro-Kremlin websites have actively promoted the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.
Although it is legitimate to criticise the EU’s vaccine (or any other) strategy, there is no proof for these claims.
Vaccines approved in the European Union must first apply for a review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The researchers from AstraZeneca did so in October 2020, as well as Pfizer/BioNTech’s, and Moderna’s in November 2020.
The Russian Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology responsible for the Russian vaccine Sputnik V had not applied for a rolling review by EMA until March 2021 and so the review is not finished yet. See the EMA's information of 04 March about its rolling review and scientific advice to the Sputnik V producer here.