The Czech authorities wanted to use the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine without waiting for permission from the EU regulator, Reuters reports.
The corresponding statement was made by the Prime Minister of the country Andrei Babish. President Milos Zeman adheres to the same position.
The readiness to use the Russian drug for vaccination of the population is associated with the recently increased rate of spread of coronavirus.
Earlier, Babiš said that the authorities would not use Sputnik V until it goes through the registration procedure in the EU. The corresponding application to the European regulator EMA was submitted by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in February.
On February 28, Zeman asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to send a batch of Sputnik V to the Czech Republic. According to him, Moscow has already agreed.