DISINFO: AstraZeneca is not a vaccine as such. It is a political tool to exert pressure on states
SUMMARY
AstraZeneca is not a vaccine as such. It is a political tool to exert political pressure on states. If you get AstraZeneca, which is much less effective than the Sputnik vaccine, then you accept the rules of the game that dictate their will and the conditions of the pharmaceutical industry.
Now, if you advertise AstraZeneca, it means that the will of the so-called Western transnational corporations is important to you, not the health of your people. By the way, in reality, although the efficiency of "Sputnik" is high, there is a political factor here as well. Russia tried to be the first to release a vaccine and did it. But the difference is that in the case of "Sputnik V" there is both a political aspect and it is effective. And in the case of AstraZeneca, there is a geopolitical aspect and weak efficiency. Therefore, even European countries refuse it.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aiming to promote the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and discredit Western ones as well as recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation claims about an alleged politicised Western campaign against Sputnik V.
These disinformation articles appeared amid a wave of false affirmations made by the developers of the Sputnik V vaccine aiming to discredit competitors, part of a long-term pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign about global vaccination.
European countries are not refusing the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. It is true that some EU countries temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns over possible dangerous side effects. Later, the European Medicine Agency, as well as the World Health Organisation, concluded that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe (see here and here) and the benefits outweigh potential risks. By March 18 2021, EU countries resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Denmark and Norway are the only EU countries which decided they would use other vaccines for the general vaccination program as the COVID-19 pressure is lower and other vaccines, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderne are used instead of AstraZeneca. Denmark offers AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to volunteers. Some EU countries have limited its use to certain age groups. For example, Germany, Italy and Spain limited the use of AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 60, France - under 55s. For younger age groups, other vaccines are being used, mostly, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, not Sputnik V.
For an overview of pro-Kremlin disinformation regarding Covid-19 vaccines see also here.