The head of the Czech Ministry of Health, Jan Blatny, refused permission to use the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus “Sputnik V” without its prior approval by the EU regulator.
According to Czech television, during a speech to the deputies of the lower house of the country’s parliament, Blatny said that vaccination against coronavirus in the Czech Republic will take place only with the use of drugs approved for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). “My position will not change while I am a minister,” the politician stressed.
Earlier, Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis announced the desire of the country’s authorities to use the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus “Sputnik V”, without waiting for permission from the EU regulator. The same position is held by President Milos Zeman. Before that, Babis said that the authorities will not use the “Satellite V” before it passes the registration procedure in the EU. The corresponding application to the European regulator EMA was submitted by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in February.
