DISINFO: High level EU officials delay Sputnik V authorisation by EMA
SUMMARY
Certain high-level EU officials have ordered European Medicines Agency (EMA) to intentionally delay the authorisation of Sputnik V.
RESPONSE
This is a recurrent pro-Kremlin media narrative targeting the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and accusing it of deliberately delaying the review of the Sputnik V vaccine and of political bias. Such accusations were fuelled both by personal attacks on the EMA and EU officials and, in at least one case, were facilitated by false claims published in a press release of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.
There is no evidence of EU bias against the Russian vaccine or that EU officials are blocking its certification. What is more, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke, said she hoped the Sputnik V vaccine would be approved. For that EMA is conducting a rolling review including with a visit to Russian facilities.
Since 4 March 2021, the Sputnik V vaccine is under the rolling review of the European Medicines Agency. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU. EMA is governed by an independent Management Board. No EU official has made any statements about the timing of approval of Sputnik V. There is no Russophobia in the way the EMA is dealing with the Sputnik V vaccine.
Read also related stories: Russia’s enemies are afraid of the advantage of Sputnik V and Russia’s leadership, The West ignores Sputnik V and does not allow others to use it or Previous Western criticism of the Sputnik V vaccine was due to Russophobia.