BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany is about to begin bilateral negotiations with Russia over its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, a source told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that any final agreement depends on providing key data to the European Medicines Agency ( EMA) by Russia. .
The European Commission on Wednesday told EU health ministers that Brussels has no plans to start talks with Russia on a preliminary contract for Sputnik V, as it has done with other vaccine suppliers, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. .
That is why the German Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, announced during the virtual meeting that Germany will start the preliminary negotiations with Russia on a bilateral agreement for the provision of the vaccine, the source added.
In preliminary talks, Germany first wants to determine what quantities Russia can deliver and when, the source said.
In any case, Germany will buy the Russian vaccine only after it has been approved by the EMA, and for this it is essential that Russia provides the necessary data, the source added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bavarian prime minister said the German region would buy 2.5 million doses of Sputnik vaccine if approved by the EMA.
Markus Soeder, prime minister of the rich southern German state, said the acquisition would take place in July.
Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Written by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Paul Carrel and Kirsti Knolle