Thierry Breton
Photographer: Thierry Monasse / Bloomberg
Photographer: Thierry Monasse / Bloomberg
Covid-19 vaccine doses “come” and the European Union does not need the Russian shot Sputnik V, according to the EU commissioner in charge of fixing the vaccination effort of the bloc.
Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, has promised that 100 million doses will be delivered in April and said that continental Europe could reach immunity by 14 July, which is Bastille Day in France.
Meanwhile, the Russians are “fighting to get their hands on” the Sputnik vaccine, Breton said in a French television interview. Instead, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her country could use Sputnik.
“Commissioner Breton, please stop being biased. Europeans want a range of safe and effective vaccines that you have not offered before. Sputnik V is already registered in 54 countries “, the Russian vaccine developer reacted the series of tweets. “His comments are pressuring Sputnik V not to go through the EMA approval process because @ThierryBreton considers that everything is great with EU vaccinations and Sputnik V is not necessary. Are Europeans satisfied with Breton’s vaccination approach? ”
Most European countries have resumed distribution AstraZeneca Plc fires a suspension on Friday to assess potential side effects, an obstacle to the EU vaccination campaign.
Asked about the relatively slow launch of vaccines in the EU, Breton insisted that Covid-related death rates were higher in the UK and US, which President Joe Biden said had just met the goal of inoculating 100 million Americans. .
Europe produces up to 150 million doses a month, Breton said, adding that he calls the CEO of AstraZeneca daily to check production. European leaders have blamed the company for delays in the vaccination campaign and for giving the UK priority over the EU in deliveries.
(Add the reaction of Sputnik V developers in paragraph 4.)