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Coronavirus pandemic

‘Reliable as an AK-47’: Putin spotlights high marks given to Russian jabs overseas

President Vladimir Putin has highlighted the remarks emanating from abroad that Russia’s vaccines against the coronavirus infection are as reliable as Russia’s world-renowned Kalashnikov rifle

© Alexei Druzhinin/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

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One-dose COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik Light registered in Russia

SOCHI, May 6. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has highlighted the remarks emanating from abroad that Russia’s vaccines against the coronavirus infection are as reliable as Russia’s world-renowned Kalashnikov rifle.

"Our medications are based on technologies and platforms that have been used literally for decades. They are also very modern and up-to-date, and undoubtedly, they are the most reliable and the safest," the head of state said during a video conference with Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova on Thursday.

"They are as reliable as an AK-47. By the way, it wasn’t us who said that, this was said by a European specialist. And I think that he is certainly right," the president emphasized.

Speaking of domestic vaccines, the head of state noted with satisfaction that their amount is growing, and specialists may recommend using various jabs depending on indications.

However, according to him, the rivalry between various pharmaceutical manufacturers has been quite fierce as of late on world markets. "So, I understand that global platforms decided to support America’s Moderna vaccine, which Pfizer, the other American-European company, is competing against, and it is competing quite aggressively on the market," the Russian president pointed out. "As far as I understand, even from reports by our specialists and colleagues from abroad, in the US, [they] say that this will be a completely innovative drug, a very modern one," Putin noted, expressing hope that the experts are not mistaken.

"Actually, whether this really is the case will become clear only after about ten years following long-term use and the analysis of the results," the president emphasized, pointing out that the Russian jabs, including Sputnik Light, are based on technologies "that have been used for decades."

Foreign evaluations of Sputnik V

Earlier, chief infectious disease specialist at the Medical University of Vienna and Chairman of the Austrian Society for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (OEGIT) Florian Thalhammer stated that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus infection demonstrated efficacy and reliability comparable to the characteristics of a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

"Sputnik V is like an AK-47, a Russian rifle, [it is] simple, reliable and effective. The encouraging data was published in a highly respected journal, late, but nonetheless. During the first and second jabs different viral vectors are used, which boosts the effectiveness," the professor said in an interview with the Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

To date, Austria has concluded negotiations to buy Sputnik V and is awaiting the decision of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on its certification.

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