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Munich (dpa) - Bavaria is securing millions of doses of the agent before a possible EU approval of the Russian corona vaccine Sputnik V.
Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) announced after the cabinet meeting in Munich that the Free State would sign a preliminary contract with a production company in Illertissen in Swabia on Wednesday.
After approval, the Free State will receive 2.5 million vaccine doses.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently examining the application for approval of Sputnik V in the EU.
In April, EMA experts are expected in Russia to assess the production and storage of the vaccine.
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Russia had already released the drug in mid-August 2020 as the world's first corona vaccine for widespread use in the population.
In the meantime, data published in the medical press have certified the agent's high effectiveness.
The vaccine could be produced in the Illertissen plant during the course of the year, said Bavaria's Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU).
A corresponding letter of intent for production and import has been signed.
"It is a highly effective vaccine," emphasized Holetschek.
The deputy FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki agreed.
The initiative finally brings more momentum to German vaccine procurement policy, said Kubicki of the German press agency in Berlin.
"Söder thus reveals the shameful impertinence of the federal government's vaccine management."
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He could understand that the CSU man no longer wanted to be dictated to the rhythm of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her poor procurement qualities.
Kubicki assumed that «this advance will give us the opportunity to finally sound out all possibilities within the framework of the Prime Minister’s Conference in order to obtain sufficient vaccine doses quickly».
Left parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch criticized the Free State's plans sharply and called on the federal government to intervene.
"We need a national effort to vaccinate, but not a Bavarian powerhouse," said Bartsch the editorial network Germany (RND).
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210407-99-116376 / 2