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Sputnik V 2.0: Russia launches second COVID vaccine EpiVacCorona to 'avoid side-effects' of first one

President Putin publicized that one of his two daughters had received a dose of the the first vaccine and was feeling well; he didn't say anything about side-effects
PUBLISHED AUG 23, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Russia has said a second coronavirus vaccine is on its way which “avoids the side-effects of the first one”, as per news reports, 

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a coronavirus vaccine, touted as the world's first such vaccine. Russia dubbed the newly-launched vaccine “Sputnik V” after the Soviet satellite. At that time, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund which finances the vaccine project, said that Phase 3 trials would begin soon and that industrial production was expected from September. Per an AFP report, 20 countries had pre-ordered more than a billion doses. 

At that time, Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests, adding that one of his two daughters had received a dose of the vaccine and was feeling well. Putin had said that his daughter had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) on the day of the first vaccine injection, and then it dropped to just over 37 degrees (98.6 Fahrenheit) on the following day. After the second shot, she again had a slight increase in temperature, but then it was all over. “She's feeling well and has a high number of antibodies," Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Getty Images)

After the launch, however, criticism followed. Test subjects reported numerous side effects. It was also met with skepticism. Various industry bodies and pharmaceutical companies called Russia’s rushed registration dangerous. They questioned its extensive push to develop a vaccine as soon as this year's end, asking if Russia was putting national prestige before science and safety.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease specialist, questioned the fast-track approach, saying, “I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing a vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing I think is problematic at best.”

This second COVID-19 vaccine (different from the one dubbed “Sputnik V”) has reportedly been developed by Russia's Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology. Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said on Friday, August 21, said that this new vaccine, dubbed “EpiVacCorona”, produced no side effects in the volunteers who received the first shot. The agency said that clinical trials of “EpiVacCorona” will be completed in September. 

“All inoculated volunteers are feeling well. To date, the first vaccination was administered to 57 volunteers, while 43 received a placebo," the agency said in a statement, adding that no side effects were observed in the volunteers who received the vaccine. The volunteers reportedly have been hospitalized for 23 days as they undergo tests. “All volunteers are well. No adverse reactions have been detected so far,” the agency said. The vaccine aims to produce an immune response after two injections administered 14 to 21 days apart.

The World Health Organization said last month that a working vaccine will not be available until at least early 2021. More than 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world to try to stop the coronavirus pandemic. At least four are in final Phase III human trials, according to WHO data, including three developed in China and another in Britain.

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