With the European Union desperate to speed up vaccinations across the continent in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Germany is considering backing local vaccine producer IDT Biologika by expediting approval for its vaccine production. The manufacturer, based Dessau-Rosslau in eastern Germany, is looking to produce the Russian COVID-19 shot known as the Sputnik V.
A spokesperson for the state of Saxony-Anhalt delivered the following statement on the matter: “If IDT Biologika wants to produce the Russian vaccine and it would be approved in the EU, we as a state government would, of course, do everything to help the company.”
Currently, IDT Biologika has been producing viral vaccines for a host of pharmaceutical companies, including the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
The push to produce COVID-19 vaccines and administer them at a faster rate comes as Germany and other members of the EU face harsh criticism due to their relatively slow roll-out so far, particularly when compared to the likes of the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States.
The German government has blamed its delayed process on a shortage of supply as well as cuts on deliveries from vaccine makers AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna.
