The Sputnik V vaccine is one of three Russian vaccines against COVID-19. The application for its admission to trading in the European Union was submitted by R-Pharm Germany, a company registered in Germany. The Medicines Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has launched an accelerated evaluation of Sputnik V vaccine. How does Sputnik V work and how effective is it?
Sputnik Vis a vaccine developed by the Russian National Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Gamalei. This vaccine is already used, inter alia, in in Russia, the EMA has now started evaluating this vaccine. According to the agency's representatives, clinical and laboratory studies show that Sputnik V triggers the production of antibodies that can protect against COVID-19.
The analysis conducted by the EMA is to assess the compliance of the Russian preparation with EU standards in terms of effectiveness, safety and quality.
Sputnik V - what kind of vaccine is it?
EMA reported that Sputnik V is composed of two different viruses belonging to the adenovirus family, Ad26 and Ad5. According to PAP, they have been modified to contain the gene for the production of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein; they cannot reproduce in the body and do not cause disease. They are administered separately: Ad26 is used in the first dose and Ad5 in the second to enhance the effect of the vaccine.
When administered, the vaccine delivers the SARS-CoV-2 gene to the body's cells. The cells will use this gene to produce protein. The immune system treats this protein as foreign and creates a natural defense - antibodies and T cells.
If the vaccinated person later comes into contact with SARS-CoV-2, their immune system will recognize the protein on the virus and be prepared to attack it. Antibodies and T cells can work together to kill the virus, prevent it from penetrating into the body's cells and destroying the infected cells, thus helping to protect against Covid-19.
Sputnik V - is it safe and effective?
Is Sputnik V vaccine safe and effective? According to the last phase of clinical trials (the results were published by the prestigious journal The Lancet), the vaccine is safe and its effectiveness was estimated at 91.6%. Over 21,000 people participated in the third phase study. participants.
16 thousand people received two doses of the vaccine, 5thousand people got a placebo. People vaccinated within 21 days of vaccination had 16 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 (but no serious infection), and 62 cases of placebo given.
In total, there were also 45 serious "he alth incidents" (unrelated to the vaccine), and 4 study participants (including three vaccinated) died as well - the authors of the study say, however, that none of the deaths were related to the administration of the vaccine .