(ANSA-AFP) - BRATISLAVA, MAR 1 - Slovakia on Monday received a first shipment of Russian vaccines as it battles the world's highest Covid death rate, the second EU state after Hungary to receive the Sputnik doses. "You can see behind me the first shipment of the two million Sputnik V vaccines," Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic told reporters at a press conference at the airport in Kosice in eastern Slovakia. Slovakia has shown growing interest in the Russian vaccine in recent weeks. "It is right to buy the Russian vaccine as Covid-19 does not know anything about geopolitics," he said in comments broadcast on Slovak television. "I do not have a problem getting a Sputnik (jab) myself," he said. Health Minister Marek Krajci said he would sign a decree allowing the use of the Russian vaccines, which have not been authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). "It will take at least two weeks until we can begin the vaccination," Krajci said.

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it too had put in an order for Sputnik vaccines and Austria has said it is in talks over the delivery and joint production of Sputnik. Russia approved its vaccine last August ahead of large-scale clinical trials, sparking concerns over the fast-track procedure. (ANSA-AFP).