Sputnik V makers demand apology from EU medicines agency

The makers of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on Tuesday demanded an apology from European Medicines Agency (EMA)after a senior official warned member states against authorizing the jab ahead of approval in the bloc, comparing emergency rollouts to "Russian roulette."

"We demand a public apology from EMA's Christa Wirthumer-Hoche for her negative comments on EU states directly approving Sputnik V. Her comments raise serious questions about possible political interference in the ongoing EMA review. Sputnik V is approved by 46 nations," the Russian vaccine makers said in a tweet.

As Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia have already adopted Sputnik V before EMA approval, Wirthumer-Hoche, board chair of EMA, said Monday "it's somewhat comparable to Russian roulette," when asked about the prospect of Austria taking the same step.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is 91.6 percent effective in preventing people from developing COVID-19, according to results from a late-stage clinical trial published in medical journal The Lancet in early February.