EU has 'absolutely no need' of Sputnik V vaccine, commissioner says

Portfolio
The European Union does not need Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 and can achieve immunity across the continent using European production, a leading EU executive said on Sunday in comments that provoked a backlash from the vaccine maker, Reuters reported.
európai bizottság_getty_stock

“We have absolutely no need of Sputnik V,” Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who heads the EU executive’s vaccine task force, told TF1 television.

Today, we clearly have the capacity to deliver 300 to 350 million doses by the end of June and therefore by July 14 ... we have the possibility of reaching continent-wide immunity,

he said.

Breton repeated a previous comment that the EU should help Russia with production of the vaccine if needed but priority should be given to the Europeans, he said.

In a series of Twitter posts, the Sputnik V vaccine maker accused Breton of being “clearly biased”.

“Europeans want a choice of safe and efficient vaccines, which you so far failed to provide,” it said. “If this is an official position of the EU, please inform us that there is no reason to pursue EMA approval because of your political biases. We will continue to save lives in other countries.”

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched a rolling review of the Sputnik V vaccine earlier this month.

Cover photo: Getty Images

More in Economy

varga mihály 2024-es költségvetés
May 31, 2023 13:10

We got the main winner of Hungary's 2024 budget

Defence development to receive massive funding next year

keksz
May 31, 2023 10:47

Industrial producer prices started to drop in Hungary

PPI has fallen for third consecutive month

áruszállítás kamion határ
May 31, 2023 10:31

Hungary exhibits strong armour despite recession

New data published

D_NOE20190808008
May 31, 2023 09:26

Hungarian government tweaks the nurse care system, many questions still open

Yet again, the state takes something away from municipalities

gwm
May 31, 2023 08:55

Chinese carmaker eyes Hungary as potential location for new plant

Great Wall Motors mulls European manufacturing plant also in Czechia, Germany

kivánd190916
May 31, 2023 08:29

More and more Hungarians are leaving their homeland

These are the most popular destinations