After Sputnik V vaccine, Russia comes up with EpiVacCorona

Moscow

After creating a hubbub with the first vaccine Sputnik V against the Coronavirus, Russia came up with a second vaccine named EpiVacCorona, which got regulatory approval from the Russian authorities. It is learned that this vaccine has completed the early-stage studies.

In a desperate attempt to make both vaccines available in the Russian market President Vladimir Putin said, “We now need to increase the production of the first vaccine and the second vaccine.”

The latest vaccine is a peptide-based, two-shot vaccine, developed by the Vector Institute in Siberia and tested among 100 volunteers in early-stage, placebo-controlled human trials, which lasted more than two months and were completed two weeks ago.

The scientists have yet to publish the results of the study. In comments to the media, scientists developing the vaccine said that it produced enough antibodies to protect the person who had it from the virus and that the immunity it creates could last for up to six months.

An advanced study involving tens of thousands of volunteers that is necessary to establish the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine was scheduled to start in November or December.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who said earlier this week she took part in the early trials as a volunteer, said Wednesday that 40,000 people will take part in the advance studies of EpiVacCorona. It remained unclear whether the vaccine would be offered for a wider use while the trials are still ongoing.