The Sputnik V vaccine is effective against a new type of coronavirus.

This was announced by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

"It is also effective against it, as well as against existing strains, and Sputnik V has repeatedly shown its effectiveness, despite previous mutations in the S-protein," Dmitriev said.

The conference was timed to coincide with the signing of a memorandum of intent on the prevention of new coronavirus infection between the N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, AstraZeneca, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and R-Pharm.

  • Kirill Dmitriev

During the event, the head of the Gamaleya Center, Alexander Gintsburg, announced the start of joint clinical trials of a combination of Sputnik V and AZD1222, developed by AstraZeneca in cooperation with the University of Oxford.

He noted that the component of the Russian drug, which showed an intermediate efficiency of more than 91.4%, can enhance the immune response in vaccinated AZD1222, whose average efficiency was estimated at 70.4%.

A similar opinion was expressed by Pascal Sorio, CEO of AstraZeneca, in a conversation with RT.

“We have two main goals.

The first is to give healthcare professionals, doctors, and nurses the ability to use either of the two vaccines for both the first injection and the second to make it easier.

Otherwise, they need to know which vaccine was used the first time.

And so the use of vaccines is greatly simplified.

The second goal is to improve efficiency whenever possible.

By combining the two vaccines, it is possible to achieve even greater efficiency by increasing the stimulation of the immune system, ”he said.

  • Pascal Sorio

Gunzburg also spoke about the progress of the Sputnik V tests, noting that among the 30 thousand volunteers from Moscow who received the vaccine, not one fell ill with COVID-19.

He also said that joint trials of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines will begin soon.

During the videoconference, Vladimir Putin shared his observations about the operation of Sputnik V and told about incidents in his circle.

“There are several cases around me when people face the virus in equal conditions.

Already vaccinated - one gets sick, but in a mild form, and the other does not get sick at all, ”he said.

According to the president, this suggests that the vaccine "works, protects people."

At the same time, the RDIF reported that Belarus became the first foreign state to issue a registration certificate for the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

In addition, the Foundation announced the start of production of this vaccine in Kazakhstan, noting that it was established in record time.

Later, on the air of the Russia 1 TV channel, Kirill Dmitriev added that Sputnik V would be effective against both the “British” SARS-CoV-2 mutation and against other mutations.

“This is based on our discussions with the Gamaleya Institute.

We saw that the previous modifications, what is called the S-protein is, in fact, the protein that encodes the spike of the coronavirus - Sputnik coped with them very well and efficiently.

Therefore, preliminary analysis confirms that Sputnik V will be effective with both this mutation and other mutations, ”Dmitriev said.

In a conversation with RT, the head of the RDIF drew attention to the fact that those who criticize the Russian vaccine sometimes do so because they do not know all the facts.

At the same time, the most "militant" criticism, he said, is due to competition and geopolitical reasons.

“We also heard criticism with questions about the third phase of testing.

We have seen that other vaccine manufacturers also registered it for emergency use even before the end of the third phase of trials - just like in Russia.

For the drugs of Moderna and Pfizer companies, the third phase of trials is officially completed in 2022 and 2023, respectively, ”he recalled.

  • RIA News

  • © Kirill Braga

According to Dmitriev, the partnership with AstraZeneca is another fact that is difficult to ignore.

The head of the RDIF stressed that information attacks on a drug developed in Russia "are extremely unethical and completely inappropriate."

He also recalled that Russia does not criticize other vaccines and does not try to discredit them at the international level.

“The people attacking Russia and its vaccine understand that they have failed in many ways, as the awareness of the Sputnik V vaccine in many countries is around 75%.

The reality is that most countries in the world see Sputnik V as one of the solutions to the vaccination issue and definitely support the Russian approach, which is scientifically sound and not politicized, "he concluded.

The situation with COVID-19 in Russia

In Russia, over the past day, 29 350 new cases of coronavirus infection were registered.

During this time, 19,705 people were cured of the disease, 493 patients died. 

The largest number of new cases was noted in Moscow (7797), St. Petersburg (3752) and the Moscow region (1523).

According to the data of the Moscow operational headquarters for control and monitoring of the situation with coronavirus, over the past 24 hours, 1,585 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Moscow.

"There are 487 people on ventilators in Moscow hospitals," the message says.

As reported in Rospotrebnadzor, Russian doctors have already conducted more than 86.3 million tests to detect COVID-19, of which 437 thousand studies - in the last day.

According to the ministry, about 629.9 thousand people remain under medical supervision due to suspected coronavirus infection.

The total number of cases of coronavirus detected in the country reached 2,877,727, during the pandemic 2,295,362 patients recovered, 51,351 people died.

In the meantime, on December 21, an appointment for vaccination for new categories of citizens was opened in Moscow: workers in transport, energy, industry and media workers will now be able to get vaccinated.

Medical workers, teachers, employees of social services, MFC, culture, trade and services can also be vaccinated with Sputnik V in the capital.

Rospotrebnadzor recalled that after vaccination against COVID-19, a number of rules must be observed and various stresses for the body must be avoided.

"After vaccination against a new coronavirus infection, stress for the body should be avoided, such as hypothermia and overheating, eating foods that can provoke an allergic reaction," RIA Novosti reported.

At the same time, Alexander Gintsburg said that Russians over the age of 60 will be able to get vaccinated against coronavirus after the New Year.

In an interview with Anton Krasovsky on the YouTube channel RT Russia, the specialist noted that research in this age group is close to completion.

"I think that before the New Year, research is now being completed on age groups 60 and more, and immediately after the New Year, permission will be officially entered into the registration certificate of the Sputnik V vaccine from 18 years of age and without age limitation," he explained.

At the moment, Gunzburg recalled, people from 18 to 60 years old can be vaccinated.

On the eve, the head of the Ministry of Health Mikhail Murashko expressed the opinion that the situation with the spread of coronavirus infection in the country should stabilize in the spring of 2021.

The minister explained that this will largely depend on the formation of immunity among Russians.

“It all directly depends on the rate of formation of population immunity.

In the spring period, we should already enter with a significantly lower incidence, but also with the stabilization of the situation, "TASS quotes him.

In turn, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, State Duma Deputy Gennady Onishchenko recalled that in 2020, the country is not supposed to hold mass festivities on New Year's holidays.

Most Russians will spend the New Year holidays at home, which will help contain the spread of infection, he said.

“So I remember the last new year, the entire Okhotny Ryad, from the Bolshoi Theater to Pushkin along Tverskaya, was closed, there were at least a hundred thousand people at the same time, that's for sure.

And this year, everyone will be more at home, talking to each other, this will strengthen our families in many ways and curb the epidemic process, ”Onishchenko told RIA Novosti.

A day earlier, the deputy called the situation with the incidence of COVID-19 in Moscow manageable, and recalled the need to comply with the restrictive measures taken.

“The most important thing I would like to dwell on is that today we need to actively participate in the vaccination campaign.

This is a real means of prevention, which will allow not only to contain the epidemic process, but already to manage it, ”the academician explained.