Filenews 12 February 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Our status as an EU Member State and the possibility of approval by the Pharmaceutical Services of the Republic of Cyprus of vaccines against Covid-19 from third countries, was registered for discussion in the Parliamentary Health Committee by the DIKO parliamentary group. Members Pavlos Mylonas and Charalambos Pitkopitis requested that the matter be registered for an ex officio examination.
Justifying their recommendation, the two members point out that the Republic of Cyprus as an EU Member State follows the guidelines and decisions of the European Commission in relation to the import and trafficking of medicinal products for human use. Recently, they note, information has come to light that EU member countries have contacted the competent authority and obtained permission to supply the Russian vaccine to enhance their vaccination programme.
At the same time, they note, recent reports by the World Health Organisation on its excellent efficacy enhance the credibility of this vaccine.
Also, given the bilateral agreements signed over time with the Russian Federation in the field of health, but also in order to achieve faster vaccination of the population of Cyprus, the two Members consider that the competent ministry and the Government should inform the House of Representatives of any actions taken and of the possibility of supplying vaccines from third countries.
It is noted that Hungary yesterday became the first EU country to issue the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, after the Hungarian regulatory authority granted an emergency authorisation to use the vaccine without waiting for it to be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
It is stressed that according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia is able to supply the European Union with 100 million doses of its sputnik V vaccine in the second quarter of 2021. That's enough to vaccinate 50 million people.
The Russian vaccine in addition to Hungary has been approved, including Armenia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Palestine, Bahrain, Pakistan – a total of 22 countries so far.
The Russian Sputnik-V vaccine against the new crown is sold in foreign countries at a price of 8.3 euros per dose. According to the tests, the vaccine has a 91.6% success rate.
