ZAGREB, 15 March, 2021 - The Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (HALMED) said on Monday that a preliminary inspection of documentation on the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine was underway but that for the time being there would be no emergency imports of the vaccine.

HALMED today received documentation from the Health Ministry on the Russian vaccine and a team of ten HALMED experts in individual areas are conducting a preliminary inspection of the documentation to determine if the delivered documents comply with what had been requested.

The agency said that so far there had been no requests for emergency imports of the Russian vaccine and that there would not be any procedures of that kind for the time being.

HALMED will thoroughly inspect the documents forwarded by the Health Ministry and if necessary, request additional documents from the producer to ensure readiness for emergency imports should the need for them arise, the agency said.

The Russian vaccine is currently also being evaluated by the European Medicines Agency.

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February 15, 2021 - Spokesman of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Croatia, Matvey Sidorov, spoke about the possibility of the Sputnik V vaccine in Croatia. 

The spokesman of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Croatia, Matvey Sidorov, was a guest of New Day on N1. He spoke about the Russian vaccine Sputnik V and the possible delivery of that vaccine to Croatia.

Sidorov did not want to talk about the meeting between Prime Minister Plenković and the Russian ambassador before the government announced them.

"Sputnik V was on the table, and the Russian ambassador conveyed good intentions. We spoke about possibilities and details," he said.

He also cited the example of a European Union member state that already uses the Sputnik V vaccine.

"We have such an example; it is Hungary. An agreement was concluded on January 22, and on February 1, the vaccine arrived in Hungary," Sidorov said.

The number of vaccines is a complex and logistical issue, Sidorov said, stating that it is a matter that the appropriate people in the departments could solve.

“Palestine got the vaccine in three weeks, but it was through Israel. Two weeks is the normal approximate speed of delivery, but this should be resolved between the Russian manufacturer and the appropriate body in the Republic of Croatia according to your vaccination plan," said Sidorov.

He reiterated that they are always ready to help.

"We will not use it as a geopolitical benefit. We want to vaccinate the whole world as soon as possible. We also consider an agreement on the production of Russian vaccines in other countries possible," Sidorov added.

Sidorov noted that Russia had not set any conditions on the table for importing vaccines and thinks that there will be no such conditions.

Sidorov said 2.5 million citizens were vaccinated in Russia last week, and now there are just about 3 million people.

“Mass free vaccinations started on January 18. There are several mobile centers in Moscow and other major cities. Every citizen of Russia or foreign citizen who has a residence in Russia can be vaccinated," he explained.

No one has yet been vaccinated at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Zagreb.

"It would take at least three weeks to go to Russia. That is why we are waiting for Sputnik V in Croatia. We cannot be vaccinated on the territory of the Republic of Croatia without the appropriate permits from state bodies," Sidorov said.

He recalled a study in the medical journal The Lancet that reported that the Sputnik V vaccine's effectiveness was 91.8 percent.

“We find it quite effective, at the level of any other vaccine in the world. We are confident about this vaccine," Sidorov said.

Asked why the Russian vaccine has not yet been approved in the European Union, he replied: “I can't say. We have sent a request to the European Medicines Agency, and we are waiting for an official response from them. We are ready for that. I don't really know why it's not going in that direction."

The number of vaccine doses delivered would depend entirely on the relevant bodies' ideas and plans in Croatia.

"As we agree, so it will be. I do not see any limit on the number of doses. I don't see any obstacles to a large number of doses," said Sidorov.

He once again noted that the quantity would depend on Croatia's official requirements.

"We are always ready for dialogue. Our embassy is ready to do it as soon as possible and deliver it," he concluded.

Illustration by Little Shiva

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