Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been found to be safe and effective, in more good news on the vaccination front. According to a report, the late-stage trial results of the vaccine show that vaccine efficiency is 91.6 percent. The trial has involved around 20,000 people. The vaccine is also deemed to be safe, and also offers protection against hospitalization and death.
Sputnik V is named after the Soviet-era satellite launched in space in 1957. It was registered in the month of August 2020, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that his daughter had taken the vaccine.
To explain how the vaccine works, Sputnik V uses a modified cold-type virus, designed to be harmless. When injected, it exposes the body to a small fragment of the Covid-19 virus. This allows the body to produce antibodies to fight the virus, which will work if the vaccinated person is infected for real.
Side effects such as sore arms, fatigue, and a raised temperature were reported but were mild with no serious reactions. The vaccine can be stored in a standard fridge, making it easier to store and transport.
However, there are people that pointed out that the analysis only involved symptomatic cases. More work is needed to determine if the vaccine stops asymptomatic cases and prevents vaccinated people from infecting others.
Sputnik V was previously criticized for seemingly being rushed out to the public before late-stage mass “Phase 3” trials were conducted. Initial trials were small-scale, involving 38 healthy adults.
Other countries bought up supplies of Sputnik V, including Vietnam and it is being used in countries like Hungary, Iran, and Argentina. However, the trial results will be encouraging to countries that are turning to Russia for the vaccine.
Sources: BBC