German HM: Russian COVID-19 vaccine has not been sufficiently tested

Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine had not been sufficiently tested, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday, adding the aim was to have a safe product rather than just being first to start vaccinating people.

“It can be dangerous to start vaccinating millions, if not billions, of people too early because it could pretty much kill the acceptance of vaccination if it goes wrong, so I’m very sceptical about what’s going on in Russia,” Spahn told radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

“I would be pleased if we had an initial, good vaccine but based on everything we know – and that’s the fundamental problem, namely that the Russians aren’t telling us much – this has not been sufficiently tested,” he added.