"Works well": Putin announced the effectiveness of the Sputnik V vaccine against the Omicron strain

The Russian vaccine against coronavirus infection Sputnik V works well against the omicron strain.

President Vladimir Putin said this at a plenary session of the jubilee XXX Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

Our Sputnik V is working well and is perhaps even more effective in combating omicron than other vaccines used, ”the head of state said.

He clarified that within the next few days experts will give an assessment on this issue, but preliminary data say that "this is so."

“In this regard, we can share the drugs we already have, I mean for booster vaccination, including for European countries, if, of course, they have such a need and desire,” the president added.

• Putin announced the effectiveness of Sputnik V against the omicron strain

Putin noted that the situation in the field of combating the spread of COVID-19 remains serious and tense.

He pointed out that omicron spreads faster than other strains, which increases the requirements for revaccination.

The head of state also stressed that the consequences of the disease with the new strain are not yet clear.

"Some researchers say that this is a milder form, while others talk about the possible serious consequences after people get sick," Putin said.

The President also asked Russians on New Year's holidays to listen to the recommendations of epidemiologists and follow them.

The Russian leader also spoke about the draft law on QR codes in public places, noting that the document in its current edition requires revision.

“When making any changes, colleagues from the government must ensure that the certification system is fully technological.

It should work reliably to protect the health of citizens, and not create unnecessary difficulties for them, ”Putin said.

The situation with the "omicron"

The rate of increase in the incidence of the omicron coronavirus strain in the world is causing concern.

This was stated by the chief sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation Anna Popova. 

“We see the rapid development of the situation in the UK, in Africa, where more than 75% of the detected cases occur daily in the omicron, the same is in South Africa.

The growth rates are frightening in their danger and risk, "RIA Novosti quotes her.

She also allowed the sequential spread of this SARS-CoV-2 mutation in Russia.

Since November 28, Russia, due to the spread of the omicron, has limited air traffic with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Eswatini.

In addition, rapid testing for COVID-19 was organized for visitors from Africa, as well as from China, Israel, the UK and Hong Kong.

Since December 2, the domestic authorities have introduced a 14-day quarantine for citizens returning from South Africa and neighboring states.

At the moment, 25 cases of infection with the omicron strain of coronavirus have already been identified in Russia.

The clinical condition of all patients is satisfactory.

"Omicron" spreads faster and mainly affects young people, as they remain unvaccinated.

This opinion was expressed in an interview with RT by the Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe Hans Kluge.

He also pointed out that preliminary data suggests that this variant of the coronavirus is less dangerous.

“We do not know for sure yet, but such a positive moment is possible.

But we do not yet know how the disease is easier or more severe.

We will need another week and a half, ”he explained.

• Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, on the approval process for Sputnik V

Speaking about the situation with the inclusion of the Sputnik V vaccine in the list of approved by the organization for emergency use, Kluge stressed that from the very beginning he was very optimistic about the development of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.

N.F.

Gamalei.

“Health issues, including vaccines, should be outside of politics.

We should never pay attention to the country of origin, the WHO spokesman said.

- In October this year, the Russian Direct Investment Fund signed official documents, and in the first quarter of next year, WHO headquarters will make a decision on approval as soon as the (full registration. -

) dossier

is provided

, which should happen before the end of this year. " ...

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is working with WHO and the European Medicines Agency to certify a domestic vaccine.

According to WHO, the inspection of the drug in Russia will take place no earlier than January 2022.

As pointed out by the general director of the RDIF Kirill Dmitriev, WHO is delaying the recognition of "Sputnik V" for bureaucratic reasons.

The situation with coronavirus in Russia

In Russia, 27,743 new cases of coronavirus infection were recorded per day.

For the entire time since the beginning of the pandemic in Russia, COVID-19 was detected in 10,159,389 people.

The largest number of new cases of coronavirus over the past day were registered in Moscow (2755), St. Petersburg (1984) and the Moscow region (1452).

The number of deaths over the past 24 hours was 1080. In total, 295,104 patients with COVID-19 have died in the Russian Federation.

8,914,225 people recovered from the coronavirus (37,437 in the last 24 hours).

Rospotrebnadzor reported that more than 234 million laboratory tests were carried out in the country for the presence of the virus.

The first series of "EpiVacCorona-N" with a volume of 12 thousand doses of vaccine has been released into civil circulation, the "Vector" center reported.

It is intended for a Phase III clinical trial involving 250 volunteers over 60 years of age.

It is noted that the differences between this drug and EpiVacCorona are only in the peculiarities of technological production.

“When the technological process changes, the vaccine must undergo clinical trials again in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

This is necessary to ensure the safety of the vaccine, the absence of serious consequences and side effects after its use, as well as to determine the immunological efficacy, ”the message says.

On August 26, the Russian Ministry of Health issued a registration certificate for EpiVacKorone-N.

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Publication from 💉 "EpiVacCorona" (@ epivaccorona.vaccine)

Vaccination against COVID-19 in Russia can also be done using the Sputnik V, Sputnik Light and KoviVac vaccines.

The day before, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the creation of the most effective and safest vaccines against coronavirus is a good example of the work of Russian scientists for the benefit of the whole world.

“We are sharing Russian technologies and experience in combating the pandemic.

After all, the life and health of people is above any political and financial benefits.

And they cannot be a subject of bargaining, ”said the head of the Cabinet of Ministers at the ceremony of awarding the government awards in the field of science and technology for 2021.