The authoritative medical journal The Lancet published data about Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, confirming the effectiveness against COVID-19 with a rate of 91.6%.
Athanasios Dimopoulos, Professor of Medicine and Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), spoke about the very high percentage of efficacy and the safety of the Sputnik V vaccine.
The article in the Lancet focuses on phase 3 clinical trials which confirmed that Sputnik V has an effectiveness rate of 91.6%.
It also noted that it is safe and provides complete protection for serious cases of COVID-19.
As Dimopoulos stressed, the issue of using the Russian vaccine will be clarified and Lancet's publication is important.
He also reminded the recent position of the German Minister of Health that the possibility of the Sputnik V's approval should be considered.
Now, after the publication "we have the prospect of approval" of the Russian vaccine, Dimopoulos pointed out.
An important finding from the Phase 3 clinical trials is the immunogenicity of the Russian vaccine: the 14,964 volunteers who received the Sputnik V vaccine developed 1.3-1.5 times more COVID-19 antibodies than those who recovered from COVID-19.
During the study, the remaining 4,902 volunteers received a placebo, as required by the rules of a typical large-scale clinical trial.
It is recalled that German Health Minister Jens Spahn pointed out that "regardless of the country in which a vaccine is produced, if it is safe and effective, it can help deal with the pandemic."
In fact, the rector of EKPA underlined, citing the relevant position of a leading infectious disease specialist, that a race between the vaccine and mutations is evolving.
