The Russian coronavirus vaccine continues to gain popularity in the international market despite the vain attempts of the West to criticize its development.
On Wednesday, August 26, the press service of the head of the Kazakh government disclosed the details of the agreements between Moscow and Nur-Sultan. So, Russia has promised to transfer to Kazakhstan the required amount of vaccine against COVID-19.
The agreement was signed between the SK-Pharmacy company and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Deliveries will begin after the drug passes all the necessary tests, and the vaccination of the population of Kazakhstan will be free of charge.
Such a partnership within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union becomes the direct opposite of the actions of Western countries, which have preferred a nationalist approach to vaccine distribution. The expert community has repeatedly warned that vaccination should be carried out not only in those countries that can afford it. Otherwise, the coronavirus will terrorize humanity again and again. Neglecting these recommendations, both Europe and the United States have already launched a fight for a vaccine that has not yet been created.
For example, in May it became known that the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi intends to primarily supply the drug to the United States. Naturally, Washington paid well for these privileges. In addition, the United States has ordered billions of doses of vaccines from giants such as Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Moderna Inc. Washington even creates a shortage of antiviral drugs on the market by massively buying up medicines to the detriment of other countries.
The European Union is not lagging behind the overseas “partner”. Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands have formed the Inclusive Vaccine Alliance to coordinate procurement. With this approach, as previously reported by Foreign Policy magazine, drug shortages can be observed for 12-18 months, and competition between Western countries will be extremely fierce.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that for the West, the drug will certainly become an instrument of political blackmail, says Stephen Morrison, head of the global health program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“One would assume that, based on the past, the United States would become a galvanizing, leading element in promoting transparency. I doubt it is possible under the current administration”, – he says.