DISINFO: The West tried to denigrate the Russian vaccine, comparing Russian scientists to terrorists
SUMMARY
Western scientists have tried to create a negative halo around the Russian COVID vaccine, Sputnik V.
In an attempt to achieve a several months edge, Western scientists tried to sow doubts about the effectiveness and safety of Sputnik V. They declared the vaccine almost a biological weapon, and their Russian colleagues almost terrorists.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West and Sputnik V vaccine, pretending that the West is against Russian vaccine because of competition.
While Russian vaccine Sputnik V was declared by Russian pro-Kremlin media to be the first vaccine ever registered in the world, it was announced even before the start of phase 3 of the clinical trials, normally required for any new drug. Reservations about the Russian Sputnik V vaccine are caused by the fact that Russia didn't complete the larger trials. But every vaccine has to go the same rigorous standards of efficacy and safety. The criticism exists within Russia itself: the Russian association of organisations on clinical trials urged Russia to postpone Sputnik V's registration because not even hundreds of people tested it.
No evidence given that the Western scientists or any authorities compared Russian vaccine to "almost a biological weapon" and the Russian scientists - to "almost terrorists".
See previous narratives claiming that Russia combats coronavirus more effectively than the democracies, such as Bloomberg provides reasons to trust Russian vaccine Sputnik V; Trying to catch up with Russia, the West lost another round in the fight against pandemic; The first vaccine against coronavirus available in the Czech Republic will definitely be the Russian one.