DISINFO: The West tries to complicate the process of the Russian vaccine entering the international market
SUMMARY
While mass vaccination is underway in Russia, the West is still trying to find a way to complicate the process of the Russian vaccine entering the international market. The very fact of the distribution of Sputnik V and our other vaccines means an increase in the credibility and reputation of Russia in the international arena, they do not want this. Europe is facing a large vaccine shortage, and in this situation, Sputnik V could help defeat the pandemic in Europe.
RESPONSE
This is a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that exploits the coronavirus pandemic claiming that there is a Russophobic campaign against Sputnik V.
Contrary to the claim, previous criticism and mistrust of the Sputnik V vaccine were not due to any alleged Russophobia but to the publication of incomplete or questionable data about it, surrounded by a disinformation campaign about this and other vaccines.
Reservations and criticism of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine stem from the fact that Russia did not complete large trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before releasing it. Rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it.
On February 2, 2021, interim results from a phase 3 trial of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine were finally published in The Lancet. The trial results show a consistent strong protective effect across all participant age groups, meaning that the Sputnik V vaccine candidate appears safe and effective. This is what led to a general change in the approach towards Sputnik V. All vaccines, authorised by the European Medicines Agency are welcome in the EU. As of the 17 February 2021, the producer of the Sputnik V vaccine has not submitted a market authorisation to the European Medicines Agency.
See other examples of these pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Western attacks on the Russian coronavirus vaccine are a corporate cold war against humanity or "Russian progress in COVID-19 vaccine has become for the West an outrageous challenge, that Sputnik V is a target of the corporate cold war; that the West wants to discredit the Sputnik V; that the WHO and Microsoft sabotaged the Russian vaccine, that the West criticises the Sputnik V because it can’t accept Russia’s primacy and because its pharmaceutical companies will lose billions of dollars.