DISINFO: The US and Europe face multiple deaths out of fear to admit Russia’s success against coronavirus
SUMMARY
The US and Europe face multiple deaths out of fear to admit Russia’s success. Western elites have considered Russia as an enemy for a long time, and this rivalry can be observed in all fronts. However, the US and the EU are in no rush to admit their defeat, even when the life of their people is at risk. Even the high mortality of the coronavirus pandemic is not pushing the West to improve relations with Moscow. After Russian scientists announced that they could create a vaccine against the disease, western elites are trying that the public doesn’t believe on it. This approach can cause numerous deaths, only because they don’t want to admit that Russia was the first country to create a medicine against the coronavirus and overcame the collective West in the scientific race.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about an alleged anti-Russian bias in the West and prejudices against Russia’s greatness. Contrary to the claim, reservations and criticism of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine are not caused by a Western refusal to accept Russia’s alleged primacy and success but because Russia didn’t complete large trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before releasing it, and rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it. The article is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign on the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, launched after its announcement was met with scepticism and criticism, even by Russian specialists in the country. See other examples in our database, such as claims that the UK launched a smear campaign against it; that the WHO confirmed that the Sputnik V was on Phase 3 of clinical testing; that the WHO and Microsoft sabotaged the Russian vaccine; that Europe is turning to Russia due to its desperate need for a vaccine; or that the West criticises the Sputnik V because it can’t accept Russia’s primacy and because its pharmaceutical companies will lose billions of dollars.