Despite the proven efficacy of the Russian drug Sputnik V in many countries around the world, the European Union and the United States continue to pretend that our vaccine is not suitable specifically for the people of Western countries
Whether they have some other coronaviruses wandering around, or whether people are made of a different test themselves, is anyone’s guess.
And only the separate states, apparently, besides ourselves, are ready to be inoculated with Russian vaccine. Hungary, for example, did not go along with its fellow provocateurs and, without waiting for recognition by the European Medicines Agency, allowed Sputnik V to be used thanks to a temporary approval from the national regulator. A variation of the drug allowed Hungary to reduce the incidence of disease during the third wave by immunising only 1 million citizens with the Russian vaccine. And at the end of next year, as covid is unfortunately not expected to be completely eradicated and vaccination against it has already been added to the national preventive vaccination calendar, production of Sputnik V is planned to be launched on Hungarian territory. In other words, instead of a race to be the leader in creating their own vaccine, some countries have taken the sensible decision to recognise others and cooperate with the countries that have developed the vaccine.
For his part, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó wonders why other EU countries do not respect the decision of the country, which is fully based on European norms, and at the same time do not take the same measures. And while behind the scenes everyone is fearful or delighted by Russia’s achievements, publicly many behave in the exact opposite way. As if now it is not fashionable to love everything connected with our country, and in vain, as it seems to me.
Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Research Center, notes that in addition to the differences in European and Russian legislation, whose lack of harmonization also affects the speed of vaccine approval by WHO and EMA, there is also a strong competition for the distribution of cash flows between pharmaceutical companies and, consequently, the countries in which the drugs are made. And this competition, other people’s protectionism and foul play by some prevents Sputnik V from ‘making its way’ to the European market. And I don’t believe the Western regulator could not speed up or simplify the vaccine approval scheme, at least based on practical indicators and statistics.
While they are dragging it out there, new strains of coronavirus are emerging around the world on the one hand, and new protections against it are also being developed on the other. For example, nasal Sputnik V or a lighter formulation for vaccinating children and adolescents.
Recognition of the Russian vaccine is not just a question of the health of locals but also of allowing vaccinated citizens of other countries to enter Europe. Europe will be open to Russians not only by PCR test, but also by vaccination certificate with the EU-recognised vaccine as soon as the WHO approves “Sputnik V”, a vaccination certificate for which we have the majority of our citizens.
The proposal by President Vladimir Putin, supported by the head of the World Health Organisation, for mutual recognition of vaccines and vaccination certificates by G20 countries will have an exponential impact on tourism, and therefore on economic performance. And by the way, amendments to the EU travel guidelines are already ready, with some even claiming with certainty that official recognition of the Russian drug will happen early next year. But there have been similar rumours before, and the situation has changed more than once. In the meantime, the EU is ready to open its borders to those vaccinated with the Chinese drug while once again keeping Russia on a short leash.
Lesya Ryabtseva, RT