As the second EU country after Hungary: Going it alone: ​​Croatia wants to test Sputnik V.

As the second EU country after Hungary
Going it alone: ​​Croatia wants to test Sputnik V.

The slow start of vaccination in the EU is causing too much criticism in the 27 member states – Hungary is the first EU country without Brussels to look for vaccines. Now Croatia is following and would like to order the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. The vaccine has not yet been approved by the EMA.

After Hungary, Croatia is the second EU country to try to fight the corona pandemic for the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. "We have established diplomatic contacts," said Health Minister Vili Beros on public television HRT. "It's just an extension of the government's efforts to provide a free vaccine to all citizens."

Only two criteria are important, Beros added: effectiveness and safety. Sputnik V is currently not approved in the EU. The Croatian Medicines Agency Halmed could issue an emergency approval if necessary. This is possible under EU law, especially if the vaccine is scarce within the EU. "Everyone is looking for their own way," said Beros.

The minister did not want to comment on the quantities in which Croatia would like to order the Russian vaccine. The news portal jutarnji.hr reported, citing sources in the vicinity of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, that it would be at least one million cans. This would allow 500,000 people to be vaccinated. Croatia has four million inhabitants.

Hungary's solo effort

So far, Hungary is the only EU country to administer the Sputnik V vaccine. So far, however, only a few citizens have been vaccinated with it. Hungary has ordered two million cans from Russia. The Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that a corresponding contract had been signed. The vaccine should be delivered in three tranches. The country is also planning to use millions of doses of the Chinese company's Sinopharm vaccine.

The Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office, Michael Roth, looks with concern at the Chinese and Russian vaccine deliveries to the Western Balkans. "We are making it too easy for Russia and China to make geostrategic profit from the situation as vaccine suppliers. We urgently need to improve here," said the SPD politician to the news portal "The Pioneer". He called on the European Union to send vaccine doses to the states of the Western Balkans as quickly as possible and to send a "sign of solidarity". "The people in the region must feel that we are not leaving them alone."

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