Germany could imagine signing deal for Sputnik V shot: German health minister
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Friday he would be in favor of signing a national supply deal with Russia for its Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19.
“I can also well imagine that we conclude contracts - and conclude them quickly,” he told a weekly news conference, adding that Germany was in close contact with Russia on questions to do with the vaccine.
A prerequisite, however, is that there is more detail on how many doses could be delivered, he said. “I am actually very much in favor of us doing it nationally if the European Union does not do something.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday Germany will order the Russian vaccine if it is authorised for use in the European Union, adding that Berlin could secure supplies on its own if the bloc would not.
"On the Russian vaccine, I have been of the opinion for some time that we should use any vaccine that has been approved by the European medicines regulator," she said.
"Every vaccine is welcome in the European Union," Merkel told German public broadcaster ARD, praising the "good data" related to Russia's Sputnik V product.
She said while her country would prefer that orders were placed in bulk by the bloc, "if such an European order did not come about... then we must go the German way".
The Sputnik V vaccine was found to be over 91% effective against COVID-19, according to trial results that were published in medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday.
Some 46 counties have authorized Sputnik V, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which markets the vaccine outside Russia’s borders.
The Russian vaccine could now be produced in the European Union nations, as reports say that the RDIF has struck deals with production facilities in Spain, France, and Germany to produce the vaccine.
The RDIF has also signed a deal with Italy to produce shots in the country, according to both the Russian organization and the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce.
(Source: Agencies)
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