By MKHUNJULWA DHLAMINI C.B
The newest variation of COVID vaccines has arrived in the form of the Russian made Sputnik vaccine. The Gamaleya Institute made vaccine will be used in a mass vaccination program in Russia and reportedly has a 91.4% efficacy based on interim late-stage trials. The vaccine is named after the satellite Sputnik that became the catalyst for the space race.
This vaccine was first registered for widespread use in August last year and was used to inoculate 200 000 people out of the 145 million population. Amidst rising “anti-vax” doubt and hesitancy, the Kremlin has sort to reassure its citizenry about the safety of getting vaccinated. While Russians will be the first in line to get inoculated, Moscow is in discussions to provide the vaccine globally.
The Sputnik vaccine is delivered in two shots, given 21 days apart in liquid form. A freeze-dried version of the vaccine can be stored at normal fridge temperatures of 2 to 8 Degrees Celsius. However, the vaccine must be normally stored at minus 18 Degrees Celsius. The Sputnik is a viral vector vaccine meaning it has to employ another virus to carry the DNA encoding of the necessary immune system response.
The Sputnik V uses a similar approach to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine with both above a 90% effectiveness rate. The Sputnik V uses human adenovirus vectors whilst the Oxford-AstraZeneca contains a weak version of a common cold virus that causes infections in chimpanzees. The vaccine will be sold to the international market for under $10.
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