The Russian Aesthetics Institute, which developed the “Sputnik Light” anti-Coronavirus vaccine, said that giving a booster dose of Sputnik Light provides an antibody response against the Ommicron mutant that is stronger than the “Sputnik V” vaccine consisting of two doses alone, so what are the details? ?

What is the difference between the two vaccines?

What is the latest data on corona treatments?

And why is Germany expecting a huge wave of injuries?

Why did French Prime Minister Jean Castix liken the spread of Omicron in Europe to "lightning"?

The answers are in this report.

We start from Moscow, the headquarters of the Aesthetically Institute, which said that a preliminary study showed that a booster dose of “Sputnik Light” - which is a single dose taken 6 months after the second dose of “Sputnik V” - provided better protection against Omicron, according to Reuters.

"All serum samples from (revaccinated) people that were examined contained the required level of virus-neutralizing antibody to the Omicron strain," said Alexander Ginsberg, head of the Aesthetic Institute.

Ginsburg did not say how many people took part in the study that compared the antibody response in people at different stages of vaccination.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which markets “Sputnik V” internationally, said in a statement, that two doses of the “Sputnik V” vaccine also provide strong protection against serious symptoms and hospitalization due to the Omicron mutant, contradicting an international study that found that “Sputnik V” did not provide. Protection against the new strain.

Gettysburg said that the effectiveness of the "Sputnik V" vaccine by adding the booster dose of "Sputnik Light" to it can reach 83% or more, which was demonstrated by the vaccine against the Delta mutant.

He said the institute would announce its findings in a comparative review bulletin.

Before the emergence of Omicron, the Russian Ministry of Health recommended the use of booster doses of "Sputnik Lite" 6 months after receiving the second dose of "Sputnik V".

What is the difference between the Sputnik Lite and Sputnik V vaccines?

The "Sputnik V" vaccine is based on vector technology from adenoviruses, and consists of two doses.

And “vectors” are carriers that can deliver genetic material from another virus to the cell, and the genetic material of the virus that causes infection is removed, while a gene that codes for a protein from another virus is entered, and in the current case, this code is from the Corona virus, and the protein has sharp protrusions. Protruding from its surface is called "spike protein," and this new element is safe for the body, but it helps the immune system respond and produce antibodies that protect the body, according to the official vaccine website.

The first dose of “Sputnik V” vaccine uses a viral vector carrying the number 26 for human adenovirus (Ad26), and the second dose uses a viral vector number 5 for human adenovirus (Ad5).

Sputnik Lite is the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine, which uses viral vector No. 26 of human adenovirus.

The European Medicines Agency approves two treatments for “Covid-19”

Moving on to medicines, the European Medicines Agency approved, on Thursday, a treatment for “Covid-19” from the British-American duo “GlaxoSmithKline” (GlaxoSmithKline) and “Vir Biotechnology” and another treatment. from the Swedish pharmaceutical company Sobi, as the European conglomerate builds its defenses against the Omicron strain.

The European Medicines Agency's approval of the anti-inflammatory drug Xevudy by GSK-vir and Sobi's anti-arthritis drug Kineret came at a time when governments were hard at work. To combat escalating infections and fears of Omicron (the fast-spreading strain of Corona virus).

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee on Human Medicines recommended the use of “Kinerett” in the treatment of “Covid-19” infections in adults with pulmonary syndrome that requires the use of an oxygen machine, as well as those at risk of acute lung failure.

It was also recommended to use "Zevodi" produced by the duo "GSK-vir" in the treatment of adults and adolescents who do not need to use an oxygen machine but who are at greater risk of disease progression.

AstraZeneca says its vaccine is effective against Omicron and Regeneron has mixed results

On Thursday, AstraZeneca and Regeneron revealed contradictory data about the effectiveness of the two companies' vaccines against the mutated Omicron strain of the Corona virus.

US-based Regeneron said its REGEN-COV therapy, also known as Ronapreve, is less effective against Omicron, although it is still effective against the Delta strain. Confirmation of indicators released by laboratory tests late last month.

On the other hand, its British-Swedish competitor AstraZeneca said that a laboratory study of its "Covid-19" antibody mixture, "Evusheld", showed that the treatment retained activity equivalent to the Omicron strain, which is the first data of its kind for a vaccine.

Earlier in the week, German researchers found that the "Covid-19" vaccines developed by Eli Lilly and Regeneron lose most of their efficacy when exposed in laboratory tests to the Omicron strain.

The study was conducted on Evoshield, independent researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration, using the so-called pseudoviruses, which contain the main mutations of the Corona virus in all strains that have appeared so far.

The company added that it is conducting, with other parties, further analyzes of the drug "Evoshield", and the data is expected to appear "very soon."

Germany is preparing for a massive wave of Corona

And the new German Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach, announced yesterday, Friday, that he expects a massive fifth wave of the Corona pandemic due to the Omicron variable.

"I am assuming a massive fifth wave," Lauterbach said in Hanover. "We have to assume that the Omicron wave that we are facing, and in my opinion we cannot prevent, will be a huge challenge for our hospitals, for our intensive care units, and also for the entire community."

"We have to prepare here for a challenge that we have not faced in this way before," Lauterbach added.

The minister explained, based on discussions with British experts, that what is currently monitored in Britain exceeds anything previously monitored during the pandemic, and said, “Even if the symptoms of infection are milder, it will not make a difference,” explaining that the number of deaths can be kept lower for two to three weeks. Weeks if the severity of the symptoms of infection is less, but the increase in the number of infections will eliminate this advantage.”

"We are at a pivotal point in the pandemic," the minister said, adding that the booster vaccination campaign can be implemented using the available "Moderna" vaccine, calling on doctors and vaccination centers to use this vaccine on a large scale.

"Omicron is spreading like lightning."

On Friday, French Prime Minister Jean Castix likened the spread of Omicron in Europe to "lightning", adding that it would become the dominant mutator in France as of early 2022.

Castix said that while many details are not yet known about Omicron, "it does not appear to be more dangerous than the delta mutant, and the data available to us indicate that full vaccination coverage with the booster dose protects well against severe forms of the disease."

There are about 3,000 patients in intensive care units in French hospitals, according to the latest data.

Castix announced that the period of eligibility for the booster vaccines would be reduced from 5 months from the date of the second vaccination to 4 months.

He said that the government will announce new measures to address abstinence from vaccination, starting next year.

"Having given time, a lot of time to the French, who were hesitant and suspicious, in January we will strengthen the incentive to vaccinate because it is unacceptable that the refusal of a few million French people to jeopardize the life of an entire country," the French prime minister added.

In Spain, doctors monitored the rapid spread of the new Omicron mutated Corona virus in the country.

And the newspaper "El PaÍs" (EL PAÍS) said Friday, quoting doctors, that the mutant is already responsible for more than 30% of all new infections in the capital, Madrid.

Catalonia's regional health minister, Josep Maria Argimon, told La Vanguardia newspaper that the rate is 25% in the tourist city of Barcelona, ​​and the dominant mutated Omicron is expected by Christmas.

There was talk of similar developments in other regions of Spain.

The numbers are increasing rapidly, and the rate of new infections there within 7 days per 100 residents is the highest in Spain, and it is 720, said Carlos Artondo, Director-General of Public Health in Navarre in the north of the country.

And health officials in South Africa said yesterday, Friday, that the mutant Omicron caused a significant increase in the number of “Covid-19” infections in the country, but at the present time the number of hospitalized patients and deaths is still less than in previous waves.

And Michel Grom of the National Institute of Diseases announced that, on Wednesday, South Africa recorded the largest number of infections ever in its territory since the outbreak of the epidemic, due to the rapid spread of Omicron.