Austrian Gov't May Place Order For Russian Sputnik Vaccine Next Week

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has stated that his gov't may place an order for doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine next week, outside of the European Commission's bulk ordering programme and before its approval by the EMA.

• Sputnik is already in use in Hungary, contributing to the country pulling well ahead of any other EU nation in its vaccination programme.
• Reports have emerged that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel may have both spoken to Russian authorities about securing doses of the vaccine, also outside of the EU's buying programme.
• The submission of an order of Russian vaccines has already cost one EU member state leader his job, with Slovakian PM Igor Matovic forced to resign and take over as finance minister after he circumvented the country's Cabinet in seeking 2mn doses of the Sputnik vaccine.
• With the EU continuing to struggle with declining public support for the joint vaccination programme, and a widespread public antipathy towards the AstraZeneca vaccine, fueled by politicians' comments and U-turning domestic medical authorities, there is a strong likelihood that member states will increasingly 'go it alone' in attempting to secure more vaccine doses - particularly from firms and nations the EU does not have existing contracts with.
• This in turn could spark more overt 'vaccine nationalism' within the EU, with member states battling to gain the most doses as quick as possible.