Procurement of vaccines not licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would be “an irresponsible and risky step”, the head of the European Commission’s office in Cyprus, Hierotheus Papadopoulos, has said. According to him, Cyprus will have to accept a slow delivery of “safe” vaccines.

Like the rest of Europe, Cyprus has pre-ordered vaccines from manufacturers, but they are having problems meeting their obligations on time – it has already been reported that they have “overestimated their capabilities”. Papadopoulos noted that some suppliers from third countries had approached EU heads of state with promises to provide them with the necessary quantities of vaccine as soon as possible. However, the official expressed doubts about the quality of products not approved by the EMA.

According to Papadopoulos, the possibility to purchase the Russian vaccine Sputnik V is limited primarily because the manufacturers have not yet applied to the EMA for a licence.

For her part, Helena Panayiotopoulou, deputy head of pharmaceutical services in Cyprus, confirmed that the vaccines are a product of advanced medical technology and can only be certified and licensed through the EMA.