Prague: Slovakia has sold most Russian vaccines Sputnik v Coronavus back to the country of origin, the Ministry of Health Slovakia said on Friday, due to low public interest after the hesitant months of using products that have no European regulation approval.
Slovakia sent back 160,000 from 200,000 doses imported in March, at $ 9.95 per dose, the same price as the original purchase, a ministry spokesman said.
Slovakia’s adventure with Sputnik is a political failure for Igor Matovic’s Prime Minister, who bought a shot without telling the coalition pair and on their opposition.
He was forced to resign in a political crisis, even though he returned to the cabinet reshuffled as Minister of Finance.
SUKL Slovak Narcotics Agency refused to provide recommendations for using Sputnik V, quoting inadequate data from producers.
The government finally allowed the use of Sputnik V last month for those who preferred to another, the vaccine was registered in the EU, but public interest was far below the amount available.
The Ministry of Health said on Friday 10,500 Slovaks have received their first dose of vaccines and 8,000 more are on the waiting list for two dose products.
The government closed the registration on June 30, and said last week it planned to sell or donate a vaccine, which approached the expiration date.
Matovic initially planned to buy 2 million doses of vaccines, when the Western-made vaccine slowly arrived in the country was hit with a pandemic in winter.
Slovakia was just the second EU country after Hungary used the Russian vaccine.