Germany Rushed the EU to Purchase the "Sputnik V" Russian Vaccine

Germany called on the European Commission (EC) to start purchasing the"Sputnik V" Russian vaccine against coronavirus infection for the EU countries. This reported Politico, citing a statement by an official at a press briefing in Berlin. “We have asked the European Commission to launch the Sputnik V procurement procedure,” the official said. He also added that it would be right for negotiations to start “immediately” while the European Medicines Agency checks Sputnik V for use in the EU. At the same time, the representative of the German authorities admitted that official negotiations have not yet begun, and admitted that the issue could be discussed at the European Council summit, which will be held this week. In Germany, it has already been said that the approval of the Sputnik V vaccine needs to be accelerated. Berlin Mayor Michael Müller said Germany needs every vaccine it can get. On March 4, the European Medicines Agency began an examination of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for use in the European Union. The agreements for the supply of vaccines used by the EU were signed before they passed clinical trials. Thierry Breton, head of the EU internal market commission, stated this week that the European Union does not need the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19. According to him, four already approved vaccines will be enough for the European Union to achieve herd immunity. Recently, the European Union has been criticized for the extremely slow pace of vaccination against the background of an increase in the number of infections in several countries. New anti-records are now being recorded in Poland and Bulgaria. Among the countries that have extended stringent quarantine measures are Germany, France, and the Czech Republic.