"Disinformation campaign": RDIF announced an attack on the Sputnik V vaccine after publications on the supply of Germany

The Russian Direct Investment Fund spoke about a disinformation campaign against the Russian drug from COVID-19 "Sputnik V".

So the fund commented on the publication of the Bild edition that the deal between Russia and Germany on the purchase of Sputnik V is “virtually dead”, since the Russian side allegedly will not be able to deliver the vaccine on time.

The RDIF stressed that such information does not correspond to reality, and its dissemination is intended to prevent Russian and similar vaccines from entering the European and other markets.

They recalled that recently the Bild newspaper published more than 15 articles attacking Sputnik V, with incorrect facts based on information from anonymous sources.

"Negotiations with Germany on the purchase of the vaccine continue, the Sputnik V vaccine may be supplied to Germany in June this year and not to the detriment of supplies to other countries," the fund said.

The RDIF representative noted that Sputnik V demonstrates complete openness, continuing to work within the framework of the European Medical Agency inspection, despite the available information about attempts by large international pharmaceutical companies and politicians in a number of countries to put pressure on the EMA in order to prevent the Russian vaccine from entering European markets.

Sputnik V notes that an active and well-funded campaign is underway against the Russian vaccine to discredit the Russian vaccine in various countries, ”the RDIF stressed, adding that information wars against vaccines are unethical and undermine much-needed vaccination efforts around the world.

We will remind, in March, the Minister of Health of Germany Jens Spahn during a press conference said that the EU does not have the required number of doses of vaccine to stop the pandemic. 

In turn, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said at the end of March that Russian vaccines, in particular Sputnik V, are in great demand abroad, since in many countries there is not enough drugs for vaccination against coronavirus. 

At the same time, he stressed that the "absolute priority" is meeting the needs of Russians in the vaccine.

• AFP

• © YURI KADOBNOV

Meanwhile, the head of the Ministry of Health, Mikhail Murashko, said that Russia had received an Indian strain of coronavirus infection.

“We have a strain of Indian coronavirus,” the minister confirmed in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Murashko also expressed hope that collective immunity to coronavirus will be provided in Russia in September.

In addition, the head of the department said that other countries are already receiving applications for a new Russian vaccine "Sputnik Light".

“She was just registered.

Yes, the interest is great, ”Murashko confirmed.

Earlier, Alexander Gunzburg, director of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, said that the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine “would also be effective against the Indian mutation of the virus.

He explained that double vaccination with the drug gives a high titer of protective immunoglobulins, even if the antigen is changed.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the total number of registered cases of coronavirus infection in the world has exceeded 157.7 million.The largest number of infected COVID-19 was detected in the United States (more than 32.6 million), India (more than 22.2 million) and Brazil (more than 15 , 1 million). 

The same countries recorded the largest number of deaths among coronavirus cases: more than 581 thousand people died in the United States, more than 421 thousand in Brazil, and more than 242 thousand in India.

At the same time, India Today, citing the Office of Medical Education and Research, reported that an increase in the number of cases of mucormycosis was recorded in the country against the background of an exacerbation of the situation with COVID-19. 

• Reuters

• © Adnan Abidi

The publication notes that the infection is caused by a fungus called mucor, which occurs on damp surfaces.

The disease most often manifests itself in people against the background of any serious illness; people with diabetes are most susceptible to it.

According to the publication, due to the detection of cases of mucormycosis among patients with COVID-19 in the state of Gujarat, they began to create separate wards in hospitals.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said the country has no plans to use AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine against the new strains of coronavirus.

Instead, France will use drugs from other manufacturers.

“We are continuing to use this vaccine now as it helps us get out of the crisis.

However, in order to respond to the threat of new strains, we need other vaccines that are more effective, ”TASS quoted Macron as saying.

We will remind, earlier, a number of European countries massively announced the suspension of vaccination with the preparation of the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca.

The reason was the cases of blood clots and blood clotting disorders recorded in a number of states in patients who were vaccinated with the drug.

In some cases, complications have been fatal.

AstraZeneca itself reported that there was no evidence of a link between drug use and an increased risk of blood clots.

The European Medicines Agency also reviewed and said there was no direct evidence of vaccination with blood clots, saying the drug's benefits in combating COVID-19 “still outweigh the risk” of side effects. 

After that, a number of states resumed the use of the drug, but some countries have not yet returned to vaccination with AstraZeneca.