The Government is prepared to use Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine if approved by EU regulators amid ongoing doubts about the ability of AstraZeneca to deliver promised doses. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has begun a rolling review of the safety and efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine. Although there are doubts about Russia's ability to manufacture large numbers of doses, a senior Government source last night noted that a German company, IDT Biologika, is in talks about producing the Sputnik V vaccine. Hungary and Slovakia have unilaterally approved Sputnik V for use, but Irish Government sources maintain it would only be used here if approved by the EMA. The Government has been largely unable to secure extra vaccine doses from elsewhere, despite approaches over recent days to a number of countries and pharma companies who have a presence in Ireland.

Source: Irish Independent March 07, 2021 02:36 UTC