Sputnik V vaccine: Russia wants to speed up, France and other European countries ready to use it

Soon a new kid among the vaccines against Covid-19 validated in Europe?

If there is a long way to go, the Russian product Sputnik V could well arrive in the coming months.

On the one hand, Russia wants to increase production abroad.

On the other hand, several European countries have said they are ready to use it for their populations, provided that it is validated in due force by the European Medicines Agency.

Russia wants to speed up

"In the very near future, we intend to start production in foreign countries to meet growing demand in more and more countries," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during his regular press briefing on Wednesday.

The day before, a study published by the medical journal The Lancet and validated by independent experts had established the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine at 91.6% against symptomatic forms of Covid-19.

Sputnik V has long been treated with suspicion in the face of the lack of public scientific data.

However, it has already been approved in around fifteen countries: former Soviet republics which have remained close such as Belarus and Armenia, allies such as Venezuela and Iran, but also Argentina, Algeria, Tunisia. or Pakistan.

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Rather than exporting, Moscow wants to develop production partnerships.

At the moment, Kazakhstan, India, South Korea and Brazil produce Sputnik V. But not all of them use it yet.

Russia has also started the approval process with the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

In France, "no blocking for it to be broadcast" if ...

Tuesday evening, Emmanuel Macron took a first step towards using the Russian vaccine in France.

“We cannot distribute it in France until the Russian producer has submitted a marketing authorization.

To the extent that he submits it, the authorities will look at it in a scientific and independent manner, ”he said on TF1 and LCI.

"If Sputnik is validated, approved by the European Medicines Agency and in France by the High Authority for Health, there is no blocking for it to be disseminated, if it meets scientific standards and robustness requirements and of control which are essential in Europe ”, added the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, this Wednesday on Europe 1.

If the procedure is successful, this could notably allow the government to achieve Emmanuel Macron's objective.

The head of state has guaranteed to offer a vaccine to "all adults who wish" by the end of the summer.

Germany and Spain also interested under conditions

German Chancellor Angela Merkel already said on Tuesday she was conditionally ready to use the Russian Covid vaccine in Europe.

This Wednesday, it is Spain's turn to post a similar position.

The government is "open" and "enthusiastic" once the product will be authorized by the European Medicines Agency, said Health Minister Carolina Darias.

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Within the European Union (EU), Hungary is the only country to have already authorized this vaccine without waiting for the European Medicines Agency to pronounce itself.

He received 40,000 doses on Tuesday.