COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia could be used in Europe to overcome the EU's supply shortage, says Germany's Federal Health Minister.

"Regardless of the country in which a vaccine is manufactured, if they are safe and effective, they can help cope with the pandemic," Jens Spahn told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

Spahn emphasized that like any other vaccine, it was important for the Chinese and Russian jabs be thoroughly reviewed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

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Neither vaccine has yet received authorization from the EMA – although an application is pending for Russia's Sputnik V.  

If the jab gets EU approval, Russian suppliers have said they would be able to deliver 100 million doses to Europe in the second quarter of the year.

A study published on Tuesday in UK-based medical journal The Lancet, gave Russia's vaccine around 92 percent protection against the virus. 

In Hungary, Sputnik V, as well as the vaccine by China's Sinopharm, have been given emergency authorization. Thousands of doses have already been administered.

Some EU politicians have criticized Budapest for breaking from the bloc-wide approval process but acknowledged that such a move is legal.

Spahn previously warned that his country is facing 10 "tough weeks," during which vaccine supplies will be tight. Appointments for inoculations have been canceled across the country and deliveries have slowed.

Regional leaders and pharmaceutical companies joined officials from Berlin on Monday for a high-profile vaccine summit to resolve the supply shortfall.

However, when speaking to reporters after the meeting, no minister confirmed whether Russian or Chinese jabs had been discussed.