Russia on coronary vaccine – – No Norwegian interest in Sputnik

In a post on its Facebook page, the Russian embassy wrote late Friday that Norwegian authorities “until recently have shown no interest in the Russian” Sputnik V “vaccine and professional cooperation.”

– The “Sputnik V” vaccine is being approved by the World Health Organization. Several countries have shown great interest in the vaccine, including Europe (Hungary, Serbia), major Latin American countries (Mexico, Argentina) and a few others, the embassy writes.

The embassy also writes that they have long received inquiries from Norwegians asking for help with vaccination with “Sputnik V”, but that this is not yet possible for the reasons mentioned above.

– If the Norwegian authorities are interested in the Russian vaccine, the embassy is ready to help establish a dialogue between the responsible authorities in Russia and Norway, and the companies that produce the Russian vaccine, writes the Russian embassy in the mail, which is posted on the page in response to NRK’s ​​questions.

Three criteria

Steinar Madsen, medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, tells Dagbladet that there has been known contact between the manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccine and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to map out a possible approval process.

– What is needed for the use of the Russian vaccine in Norway to be approved?

– It must first aim for a common approval in Europe, and for that to happen, three elements must form the basis. Quality is the first of them. The vaccine must be well prepared and clean, that is, it must not contain unfortunate substances. Safety is the second criterion. The vaccine must not cause unacceptable side effects. The effect is the last criterion. Therefore, the vaccine must work against COVID-19, explains Madsen.

– If Sputnik V meets these criteria, it can be approved in Europe, he adds.

If so, it is again up to FHI and the Ministry of Health and Care Services to decide whether Norway should buy the vaccine for use, explains Madsen.

The NRK correspondent in Moscow, Jan Espen Kruse, is a Norwegian acquaintance who has already received the corona vaccine “Sputnik”.

Busy, but not vaccinated

– Difficult

If the use of the Russian corona Sputnik vaccine is approved, Norway should order it quickly, according to county council leaders in Troms and Finnmark.

– We now need vaccination at a faster rate than we have achieved so far, says county council leader Bjørn Inge Mo (Labor) in a press release.

He considers that vaccination today takes too long in relation to the restrictions to which society is subject. Norway should be open to other vaccine providers, believes the county council leader.

– If the use of the Russian vaccine Sputnik against the crown is approved, I strongly urge the Norwegian authorities to rush to request it, so that we do not have to make a new queue, says Mo.

Norwegian Medicines Agency on Sputnik Vaccine: – Very promising

Conversations

EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell was in Moscow on Friday for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, NTB writes today.

– As you know, we are facing a vaccine shortage, said Borrell at the press conference after the meeting, where Borrell pointed out that another vaccine will be welcomed in the EU.

Analyzes have shown that the Russian vaccine is 91.6 percent effective, according to The Lancet medical journal. This is good news for all of humanity, Borrell said Friday.

– This is what we were waiting for, more information on the results of the Sputnik V vaccine. This is very promising, Madsen tells NTB.

Independent experts assure the AFP news agency that the new information alleviates concerns about the lack of transparency around the vaccine, which the Russians have already begun to deploy and which has been exported to several countries.

Hungary has already approved the vaccine, which has also been sold to several other countries.

Advanced drugs

In Russia, the vaccine was approved after being tested in almost a hundred people.

– Probably raised eyebrows a bit in the West, Madsen tells NTB.

– So this can be considered a great victory for Russia?

– Yes, and the Russians are definitely not to be underestimated. They have a large pharmaceutical industry and have previously shown that they can make advanced biologics, Madsen says.