Russia Denies Reports of Vaccine Negotiation Suspension with Germany, "Supply Possible Around June"

On the afternoon of the 4th, an employee is holding a Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V' produced at the Korea Chorus factory in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

Russia announced on the 9th (local time) that it could supply its domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, to Germany around June.

According to TASS and other sources, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), responsible for the overseas supply and contract manufacturing of the Sputnik V vaccine, denied earlier reports by the German daily Bild that vaccine supply negotiations between Russia and Germany had reached a deadlock, through its vaccine promotion Telegram channel.

RDIF stated, "Negotiations on vaccine supply with Germany are ongoing," adding, "Sputnik V vaccine can be supplied to Germany in June this year, and this will be done without affecting supplies to other countries."

They also claimed that the Bild report was false and part of a disinformation campaign aimed at blocking the entry of the Russian vaccine into the European market.

Earlier that day, Germany's Bild reported that negotiations between Russia and Germany regarding the Sputnik V vaccine deal had been suspended, stating that Russia would not be able to supply the vaccine until June or July, and by then Germany would have secured sufficient vaccine supplies from other countries.

The newspaper cited reasons why Russia would find it difficult to supply Sputnik V to Germany by July, including disruptions in procuring vaccine raw materials, the need to prioritize supply to India amid a rapid COVID-19 surge, and the stringent vaccine approval standards of European regulatory authorities.

Meanwhile, Sputnik V was developed and approved by Russia in August last year as the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, but unlike the usual vaccine development process, it was approved based only on Phase 1 and 2 results before Phase 3 clinical trials, leading to controversy over its efficacy and safety.

However, in February, the global medical journal The Lancet published Phase 3 results showing a preventive efficacy of 91.6%, which has led to a more positive evaluation. So far, 64 countries with a combined population of 3.2 billion have approved this vaccine. Contract manufacturing is also being carried out in South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.