Moscow Gains New Leverage With Coronavirus Vaccine Breakthrough-Politico
When news broke last August that Russia was the first country to approve a vaccine against the coronavirus, it was met with raised eyebrows around the globe. The shot — named Sputnik V — hadn’t gone through the standard testing regime. Experts warned that the rushed process risked undermining public confidence in the shot. Meanwhile, media reported that production snags were delaying its rollout. Impressive late-stage clinical trial results published in one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals Tuesday, however, have provided a sought-after endorsement from the scientific community. The news that the jab is as effective as the West’s best efforts provides reason for cheer in regions like the Middle East and South America, where some countries have approved the vaccine — but it also could dog EU officials trying to hold together a coalition that has become embittered over the bloc's contested vaccine strategy and sluggish vaccine rollout. Politico, 02/02/2021
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