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Summary
- Italy is all set to become the first EU country to manufacture Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V.
- Some European nations have authorized the use of Sputnik V even before the EMA approval.
- Despite the scepticism around the vaccine’s approval before trial completion, the vaccine has a proven safety profile and is 91% effective.
Italy has become the first EU nation to sign a deal with Russia to manufacture the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The EU has faced criticism relating to its vaccine rollout process. Several countries have taken a step forward and authorized the Russian vaccine's use without EMA approval.
In Europe, the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved on 21 December 2020 by the European Commission, after evaluation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and consultation of EU Member States.
Let us look at the contract in detail -
Russia has entered into an agreement to manufacture its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in Italy. The contract was signed between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Adienne Srl, the Italian subsidiary of a Swiss-based pharmaceutical player.
- COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing is set to commence in July 2021 and will produce 10 million vaccine shots this year.
- The agreement’s financial terms were not disclosed.
Source: Copyright © 2021 Kalkine Media Pty Ltd.
The Italian Russian Chamber of Commerce stated-
So far, the Sputnik V vaccine has been registered in forty-five nations worldwide, and the Russian authorities are working on twenty collaborations across Europe. Moreover, some overseas manufacturers have produced Sputnik V's trial batches, but there is some evidence related to large-scale manufacturing.
Media reports indicate that Sputnik V has not yet been authorized for use in the EU, but the EMA initiated a rolling review of the vaccine last week.
Some EU nations opted not to wait for EMA's vaccine approval
European countries have been facing criticism around slow vaccine rollout, and some nations have decided not to wait for the EMA's authorization.
Hungary became the first country in Europe to approve Sputnik V last month. Slovakia disclosed an agreement last week for acquiring nearly 2 million shots of Sputnik V and received its first shipment of almost 200K doses.
According to some media reports, an EMA official has warned European countries against issuing national emergency approval of Sputnik V.
ALSO READ: Two COVID-19 vaccines that are helping the world get over the pandemic
Concerns over Russia's COVID-19 vaccine
Despite the questions related to Russia's hasty introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was launched before the completion of late-stage clinical trials, Sputnik V has been found safe and effective.
According to a Lancet study, Sputnik V is 91% effective and prevented inoculated people from developing severe symptoms of COVID-19. However, it is uncertain if the vaccine can stop the spread of COVID-19.
DO READ: Merck/Ridgeback’s COVID-19 oral drug shows promising Phase 2 data
