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Russia is spreading misinformation about western developers of the coronavirus vaccine to promote the sale of its drug, said the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
Russian media are spreading false information about European and American coronavirus vaccines in countries where Russia intends to sell its vaccine. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, wrote about this on his blog on December 28.
“During the COVID-19 infodemic, we saw how widespread and destructive foreign intervention and disinformation can be to our security, our democracy, and our society. Solving the problem of disinformation is an urgent need … Western vaccine developers they are openly ridiculed by the Russian media, controlled by the state, which in some cases led to absurd claims that vaccines will turn people into monkeys, “said Borrell.
He noted that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, any attempt to raise unreasonable questions threatens public health. “Terrorist organizations like ISIS have also used the confusion in the ‘crown’ situation to spread their own propaganda,” said the head of European diplomacy.
Borrell emphasized that the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information is only part of the problem.
“During the pandemic, authoritarian regimes used the fight against disinformation as an excuse to restrict fundamental rights, especially freedom of expression and freedom of the media,” he added.
Borrell urged that more be done to combat misinformation so that EU opponents “do not use low-cost, low-risk, high-reward tactics to attack our societies and democracies.”
Reuters writes that the Russian Fund for Direct Investment, which is responsible for marketing the Sputnik V vaccine abroad, the Russian Health Ministry and Roskomnadzor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The agency also recalled that Kremlin President Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Russian vaccine is more reliable because it is made with an adenovirus found in humans, compared to the AstraZeneca vaccine based on the monkey adenovirus, whose clinical trials were temporarily suspended in September due to unexplained illness of one of the subjects.
The Sputnik V vaccine was registered on August 11. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it is effective, forms stable immunity and has passed all tests. According to him, one of his daughters received two vaccinations and is doing well. At the same time, the Russian president himself was not vaccinated; As head of state, he cannot volunteer in a vaccine trial, explained Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader’s press secretary.
The Russian vaccine was heavily criticized as it was registered before the third phase of clinical trials. Phase 3 trials are critical to testing a vaccine’s readiness for widespread distribution, writes National Geographic. Several Russian scientists have observed that the fast-track approach to vaccine registration is contrary to scientific and ethical standards for drug development.
By data The World Health Organization, as of December 22, 223 possible vaccines against the coronavirus are being developed in the world, 61 drugs are in clinical trials.
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