Merkel open to Russian anti vaccine - CO V ID: Everything approved by EMA is welcome

In a television interview, she said Germany welcomed the latest data from testing Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

Any vaccine approved by the European Drug Agency is welcome. I've spoken to the Russian president about this. We've seen encouraging data today about the Russian vaccine. Every vaccine is welcome in the EU as long as it was approved by EMA”, Merkel said.

This comes after she said last month that it was “open to the idea” of using European production capacities to increase Russian vaccine production.

Earlier today, Merkel said Germany would have vaccinated 10 million people against the new coronary by the end of the first quarter.

Merkel added that the EU was entitled not to the emergency approval that had allowed Britain to release the first vaccine for public use before anyone else, as it was important to maintain people's confidence in vaccines.

She also said it would be considered if those who refuse a vaccine should at some stage face restrictions.