Europe is ready to violate its principles regarding the purchase of the Russian drug Sputnik V, as the coronavirus pandemic is getting out of control and Western pharmaceutical companies are far from producing their own vaccine.
The coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V was the first of its kind to be registered. So far, the West has tried to criticize the development of Russian scientists, accusing them of rushing. The reasons for such statements were political. Meanwhile, many countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have become interested in Russian development.
Recently Hungary was also among the potential buyers. Budapest will start deliveries as early as December, said Foreign Minister Peter Sijarto, as the total number of infected people in the country is approaching the 100,000 mark.
Hungary has repeatedly acted contrary to the collective European position, provoking criticism from Brussels. However, now there is no criticism. Moreover, the European Commission has made it clear that they do not object to Viktor Orban’s government decision.
“According to EU regulations, there are limited exceptions that allow member countries to temporarily use medicines not certified on the European market in emergency situations”, – said European Commission spokesman Stefan de Keersmacker.
The statement came as the coronavirus spread to the EU is breaking new records. In Germany, the daily increase in fatalities has exceeded 100 people. In France, this figure is 3 times higher. In Italy, which Russia once rescued from a deadly virus, more than 400 people have died from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. At the same time, governments are desperately balancing their efforts to avoid total quarantine, which triggered the collapse of the economy last spring.
According to Keersmaker, if the Russian vaccine is purchased, all legal responsibility for the consequences will rest with the purchasing governments. This is in fact the “green light” for European countries, which are still waiting in vain for results from Western companies that have already stopped testing several times due to side effects.