Sputnik V vaccine 92% effective on COVID-19: Russia institute
Hyderabad:: Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19, being developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, has demonstrated an efficacy rate of 92 percent.
The confirmation is based on the first interim data from the largest randomized, placebo-controlled Phase-III clinical trials in Russia involving 40,000 volunteers, a press release from Gamaleya, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said.
The trials evaluated the efficacy among over 16,000 volunteers who received the vaccine or placebo 21 days after the first injection.
As a result of a statistical analysis of 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the case split between vaccinated individuals and those who received the placebo indicating that the Sputnik V vaccine had an efficacy rate of 92 percent after the second dose, the release said.
In September 2020, Dr. Reddys and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russias sovereign wealth fund, entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine and its distribution in India.
As part of the partnership, RDIF shall supply 100 million doses of the vaccine to Dr.Reddys upon regulatory approval in India.
On August 11, 2020, the Sputnik V vaccine was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world's first registered vaccine against COVID-19 based on the human adenoviral vectors platform.
Separately, in September the vaccine was first administered to a group of volunteers from the 'red zones' of Russian hospitals.
The observation of additional 10,000 vaccinated volunteers representing medics and other high-risk groups under the civil use of the vaccine out of clinical trials also confirmed the vaccine's efficacy rate of over 90 percent, the release added.
As of November 11, as part of the clinical trials in Russias 29 medical centers, more than 20,000 volunteers were vaccinated with the first dose and over 16,000 volunteers with the first and the second dose of the vaccine.
In addition, as on the date, no unexpected adverse events were identified as part of the research.
Some of those vaccinated had short-term minor adverse effects such as pain at the injection site, flu-like syndrome, including fever, weakness, fatigue, and headache, according to the release.
Alexander Gintsburg, director of Gamaleya Centre, said the publication of the interim results of the post-registration clinical trials that convincingly demonstrate Sputnik V vaccines efficacy gives way to mass vaccination in Russia against COVID-19 in the coming weeks."
Thanks to the production scale-up at new manufacturing sites, the Sputnik V vaccine would soon be available for a wider population, he said.
"This will break the current trend and lead to an eventual decrease in COVID-19 infection rates, first in Russia, then globally," he said.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE on Monday said their vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19.
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Expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to launch ‘non-adjustment political party’ in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Aug 22 (PTI): Expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Friday announced that he would launch a “non-adjustment political party” in Karnataka.
The Vijayapura MLA made the announcement in the assembly after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the state’s financial woes and accused the previous BJP government of passing bills without funds during its 2019-23 tenure.
“You (Siddaramaiah) too got support from two of us,” Yatnal said, prompting Siddaramaiah to quip, “Please sit down. You have been expelled from the party.”
In his response, Yatnal said, “You were also expelled by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda from the JD(S). Whoever is expelled from a party becomes Chief Minister one day.”
“I will be happy if you become Chief Minister,” Siddaramaiah said in a lighter vein. “But from which party will you do it?” the CM asked and suggested that Yatnal form a new party after his expulsion from the BJP.
“I am going to form a ‘Non-Adjustment Political Party’. Don’t worry if it cuts BJP’s votes. It won’t help you,” Yatnal responded. Siddaramaiah retorted that Yatnal should launch his outfit if he wanted the Congress to come to power.
The firebrand leader was expelled from the BJP for six years after repeatedly targeting former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and his son, state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, over "dynastic politics" and alleging an adjustment between Yediyurappa and Siddaramaiah.
Several BJP legislators had joined his campaign before the party high command acted to quell dissidence.
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