Russia in the global ‘vaccine race’. OSW Commentary 2020-10-28.

Rogoża, Jadwiga and Wiśniewska, Iwona (2020) Russia in the global ‘vaccine race’. OSW Commentary 2020-10-28. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moscow has stepped up its activities in the global ‘vaccine race’ against SARS-CoV-2. So far Russia has registered two vaccines, which was announced by President Vladimir Putin himself. The presentation of Sputnik V, which the Russian government has branded as the ‘world’s first vaccine’, caused controversy from the very start, for both medical (as the clinical trial procedure was not completed) and ethical reasons (forcing ‘volunteers’ to take part in the tests). Foreign specialists, alongside the Russian medical community and the Russian public, have expressed scepticism about the insufficiently tested preparation. Despite this, the government is planning to carry out a mass campaign of public vaccination using Sputnik V and export this vaccine, mainly to developing countries. Since the start of the pandemic, Moscow has viewed the vaccine’s registration as an important instrument of its foreign policy and of Russia’s soft power which will illustrate its ambition and determination to win the ‘vaccine race’ with the West. Alongside the element of prestige, the launch of the vaccine is also of major financial significance due to the high profits expected from its sale. For the global economy, the vaccine’s launch is an opportunity to reduce the losses triggered by the pandemic. Russia is mainly focusing on emerging markets, although Sputnik V will face strong competition there from Chinese-made vaccines.

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