DISINFO: Europe will "fight with feet and hands" against Sputnik V
SUMMARY
The promotion of Sputnik V in the European Union will be opposed by those who are interested in promoting other vaccines. The fact that no one is waiting for our vaccine in the EU (meaning people interested in promoting other vaccines) is, of course, true. They will resist with both feet and hands to postpone as much as possible the decision to authorise sales of Sputnik V. It has nothing to do with production capacities, the issue rests on the competition.
Another question is that they are unlikely to be able to delay indefinitely. They will either make a decision and the vaccine will fall under some sanctions, that is, they will transfer it to the category of political action, or they will drag it out until the very last moment.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation about the EU, vaccination and Sputnik V. This is the part of a disinformation campaign aimed at promoting the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
No evidence is given that the EU is politicising the selection, approval or purchase of vaccines. The EU has adopted the strategy for COVID-19 vaccines, launched by the European Commission. The strategy aims to ensure high quality, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and secure rapid access to these vaccines for the Member States and their populations.
European Union member states can use any vaccine approved by European Medicines Agency (EMA). At the moment in the EU authorised the use of four vaccines. Three vaccines, including Sputnik V, are under rolling review.
The claim that European bureaucrats are fighting against the Sputnik V vaccine is unfounded. The reason the Russian Sputnik V vaccine has not been authorised yet is that it submitted its application for a rolling review only in March 2021. The evaluation can take up to 150 working days, and is work in progress.
See related disinformation messages alleging that the West aims to intensify its campaign against the Sputnik V vaccine; that EMA's delay in approving Sputnik V is political; Russian vaccine opponents are trying to eradicate trust in Sputnik V; that EU in no hurry to admit Sputnik V because it is afraid of competition, that Germany and EU are putting geopolitics ahead of the well-being of their citizens and that EU made the difficult for people to get Sputnik V.