An official from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) "
advised
" EU member countries to authorize the vaccine against the Covid-19 Sputnik V as a matter of urgency, citing insufficient data for the time being on those vaccinated .
Read also: Covid-19: Sputnik V, a very political Russian vaccine
"
It's a bit comparable to Russian roulette
," said Christa Wirthumer-Hoche, president of the board of directors, interviewed Sunday evening on the Austrian television channel ORF, while the Austrian government is increasing contacts with Moscow.
“
We need documents that we can review.
For the moment, we do not have any data on the side effects concerning the vaccinated people
”, she underlined.
"
We are in the unknown and that is why I strongly advise against issuing an emergency national authorization
," added Christa Wirthumer-Hoche, inviting countries to wait for the green light from the European regulator.
Sputnik V reached a key milestone for its deployment in the European Union (EU) last week, with the start of its review by the Amsterdam-based EMA.
After this announcement, the Russian authorities said they were ready to provide vaccines to 50 million Europeans from June.
"
We will be able to have Sputnik V on the market in the future, but once we have examined the necessary data
" based "
on European standards of quality and efficiency controls
", insisted the representative of the EMA.
Impatient with a process deemed too slow, several EU countries have turned to vaccines not yet approved, such as Hungary, which began administering the Russian vaccine to its population last month.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia have also placed orders from Russia.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz spoke at the end of February with Russian President Vladimir Poutine "
the possibility
" of deliveries of Sputnik V, believing that the vaccines should not be the subject of "
geopolitical battles
".
The leader met Friday in Vienna with an official of the Russian Sovereign Fund (RDIF) which financed the development of the vaccine.
"
The discussions were constructive and positive
", then commented a spokesperson for the Russian embassy, quoted by the state agency Ria Novosti.
Sebastian Kurz, however, said he wanted to wait for the approval of the EMA before any use of the vaccine in Austria.
