SPUTNIK-V

Back in August 2020, Vladimir Putin, The Russian President announced their approved covid-19 vaccine: The Sputnik-V, even before phase III clinical trials had even begun.

Now this vaccine the world’s first registered vaccine which is based on an efficiently studied human adenoviral vector-based platform. More than 60 countries have already registered the Covid-19 Sputnik-V vaccine.

Russia has sent their first package of 150,000 doses of vaccines to India on May 1 which landed in Hyderabad. Soon within few days, they will be sending their second package of 150,000 doses of Sputnik-V.

What is Sputnik-V?

Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is a covid-19 vaccine that is adenoviral-based. Here two components are used, which are two adenovirus serotypes- 5 and 26.

Sputnik V utilizes a weaker virus to deliver some small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response in the human body. Sputnik V vaccine is produced and developed with the HEK293 cell line.

Now why there quite a lot of efficacy for the Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine is that basically this vaccine is able to reduce or shorten the time taken for the actual production of immunity against the SARS-CoV-2.

How Does This Vaccine Work?

Source: Gamaleya center RIDF 2020-www.gamaleya.org

What Happens On First & Second Vaccination?

During the first vaccination, there will be a production of the humoral cellular immunity, and once a second vaccination is administered, we see the memory cells formed.

They use two different types of adenovirus vectors (rAd26 and rAd5) which utilize for the first and second vaccination, that boost the effect of the vaccine.

Ingredients Of Sputnik-V Vaccine

There are some active components that are a modified replication-defective adenovirus of a different serotype (Serotype 26 for the first component and serotype 5 for the second), which are modified to have the protein S-expressing gene of SARS-CoV-2.

They include

Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, Sodium chloride

Sucrose

Magnesium chloride hexahydrate

Disodium EDTA dihydrate

Polysorbate 80

Ethanol

Water

Is Sputnik-V Covid-19 Vaccine Safe and Efficient?

Now comes the common question, Is Sputnik-V safe?

International research journal; The Lancet published a report on the open, non-randomized trials on September 2. According to this paper, The Phase I and II results were performed on 76 participants and were done and all were of an open, the non-randomized trial was published in The Lancet on September 2. According to the paper, all participants developed specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies(Ab). No serious adverse relations were noted and even if they had, it was mild and just slight pain experiencing at the site of injection.

The efficacy of Sputnik V against COVID-19 was reported to be 91.6%.

This is shown through an analysis of data on 19,866 volunteers, who had received both their first and second doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine or placebo.

This analysis on efficacy has been done at the final control point of about 78 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Cost of Sputnik-V vaccine shot.

As of now, the price of one shot of the Sputnik-V is said to cost around $10 (734.7 rupees) per person.

Storage of Sputnik-V

Imported in a frozen condition, these vaccines reach from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

These vaccines are stored at -18 to -22C and They will be kept outside for 15-20 minutes before being administered to the people. The center is also analyzing the data for stability at 2 to 8C

SPUTNIK-V To Hit The Indian Market Soon: Quick Look At This Russian Covid-19 Vaccine!