Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Effective Against New Coronavirus Variants, Developers Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is effective against new coronavirus variant, developer Gamaleya Research Centre and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Monday.

"Vaccination with Sputnik V has produced protective neutralising titers against new variants, including Alpha B.1.1.7 (first identified in the UK), Beta B.1.351 (first identified in South Africa), Gamma P.1 (first identified in Brazil), Delta B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3 (first identified in India) and Moscow endemic variants B.1.1.141 and B.1.1.317", the Gamaleya Centre and RDIF said in a press release.

 

In this photo released by the press office of the Argentine presidency, President Alberto Fernández receives the first dose of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 at Posadas Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Thursday, January 21 of 2021.

© AP Photo / Esteban Collazo

Back in August 2020, Sputnik V became the world’s first officially registered vaccine against the novel coronavirus. It has since been approved in 67 countries worldwide, and its efficacy is estimated to be at 97.6%, according to an analysis of data on vaccinated Russians.