07/06/2021 (Agence Europe) – After Hungary, Slovakia became the second EU country to administer the Russian vaccine Sputnik V on Monday 7 June. At this stage, 200,000 doses of the vaccine are available in the country, but only about 5,000 people have registered to receive the vaccine, several news agencies including AFP and AP reported. Slovakia authorised the use of this vaccine after some controversy over its quality (see EUROPE 12695/1) and against the backdrop of a political crisis, the purchase of the vaccine having led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Igor Matovič, and his Health Minister. On the EU side, Sputnik V is still under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and has therefore not yet been granted a conditional market authorisation at European level. (AC)