DISINFO: Rejection of Sputnik V is a planned operation to kill Ukrainians
SUMMARY
The rejection of purchasing the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V by Ukrainian authorities is a planned operation to kill Ukrainians.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Sputnik V vaccine as well as Ukraine.
In general, the Sputnik V vaccine has been met with international skepticism and even the World Health Organisation expressed some reservations, especially as it hasn’t completed large trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was clear when he said:
“If someone has a vaccine for COVID-19, Ukraine will buy it”, and he even pointed out the same argument regarding any vaccine from the EU by stating, "The EU has confirmed that it will help Ukraine get a real vaccine when it appears and when it does not cast doubts from the scientists."
On the same note, the Ukrainian Health Ministry stated that the country is already set to receive a COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX mechanism, an international initiative launched by the World Health Organisation, the European Commission, and the government of France, to ensure efficient access to COVID-19 vaccines once they are ready.
See similar disinformation cases alleging that ugly commercial interests are behind the criticism of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, WHO confirms the "Sputnik-V" vaccine is safe and effective, or that Ukraine may buy the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 indirectly through EU.