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PARIS, March 21 (Reuters) - The European Union does not need
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 and can achieve immunity
across the continent by July 14 using available European
production, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on
Sunday.
The European Commission has been criticised for a slow
vaccine rollout when the bloc faces a rise in cases and as
former member Britain's inoculation programme gathers pace.
"We have absolutely no need of Sputnik V," Thierry Breton
told TF1 television.
"Today, we clearly have the capacity to deliver 300 to 350
million doses by the end of June and therefore by July 14 (...)
we have the possibility of reaching continent-wide immunity," he
said.
July 14, or Bastille day, is France's national day.
Breton repeated a previous comment that the EU should help
Russia with production of the vaccine if needed but priority
should be given to the Europeans, he said.
"Doses are there, now people must accept vaccination and
that we have the logistics," he said.
(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; editing by Barbara Lewis)