DISINFO: The reasons for the West's criticism of Sputnik V vaccine are political
SUMMARY
The Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is the first of its kind to be registered. Until now, the West has tried to criticise the development of Russian scientists, accusing them of haste. The reasons for such statements were political.
RESPONSE
This is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign on the Russian coronavirus vaccine called “Sputnik V”, which was met with scepticism and criticism, even by Russian specialists.
Reservations about the Russian Sputnik V vaccine are caused by the fact that Russia didn’t complete the large trials which WHO insists that a vaccine must undergo involving thorough testing to examine the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before it is released. Rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger the people receiving it.
In fact, there is evidence that Russia has at all times perceived the development of a coronavirus vaccine mainly in terms of geopolitical and economic gain.
There is currently no available approved vaccine for COVID-19 anywhere in the world. However, there are 30 vaccines in clinical trials on humans, and at least 90 preclinical vaccines are under active investigation in animals.
See other examples in our database, such as claims that the UK launched a smear campaign against it; that the WHO and Microsoft sabotaged the Russian vaccine; that Europe is turning to Russia due to its desperate need for a vaccine; or 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, and "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".