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Coronavirus pandemic

Putin orders probe into how vaccine works against different virus strains

The instruction was given in view of the new coronavirus strain raging in the UK

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

Read also

Drop in Russia’s COVID-19 spread rate shouldn’t lull public into complacency, Putin says

NOVO-OGARYOVO, January 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a probe into how the Russian vaccine against the novel coronavirus will work in a situation where there are many virus strains.

At a meeting with Cabinet members on Wednesday the Russian leader pointed out that some countries were experiencing an upsurge in infection rates for no apparent reasons: "either due to new strains or failure to observe the required discipline during the holidays."

"We’ve got to know this. I know that we have these strains and our specialists, our scientists are working on this. We are to have a clear idea of how the vaccine works," Putin said.

He stressed that the Russian vaccine had already shown it was the best in the world, but added that in-depth research was essential.

"I know the experts’ opinion. I know that they believe our vaccine will work and that it will work effectively although strains vary. We need in-depth research anyway," Putin said. He asked Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova to see to it that the process was held at the highest level.

Russia on August 11 became the first country in the world to have registered a vaccine against the coronavirus, Sputnik V, produced by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Sputnik V is a vector-based vaccine. The preparation EpiVacCorona by the state-run research center Vector in October became another Russian vaccine to have obtained registration. It was created on the basis of artificially synthesized elements of the virus structure. The registration of a third vaccine, created by the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Chumakov Federal Center of Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products is expected soon.

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