The developers of the Russian coronavirus vaccine have suggested AstraZeneca to try combining its vaccine, developed by the Oxford University, with its Sputnik V to boost efficacy.
The Russian coronavirus vaccine developers called on AstraZeneca to try combining vaccines a day after the UK company and the Oxford University acknowledged a manufacturing error which has raised questions about preliminary results of their experimental coronavirus vaccine.
AstraZeneca admitted a manufacturing error a few days after it said the late-stage trials of its coronavirus vaccine were “highly effective” in preventing disease.
Russia had earlier said its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 92 per cent effective at protecting people from Covid-19. Hence they put forward the suggestion to combine the two vaccines.
“If they go for a new clinical trial, we suggest trying a regimen of combining the AZ shot with the SputnikV human adenoviral vector shot to boost efficacy,” the developers of the Russian vaccine said on their Twitter account, adding, “Combining vaccines may prove important for revaccinations.”
AstraZeneca has said it will have as many as 200 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2020. The Oxford developed coronavirus vaccine is viewed as offering one of the best hopes for many developing countries because of its cheaper price and ability to be transported at normal fridge temperatures as compared to the Pfizer, which needs to be stored at minus 70 degress Celsius(-94F) or below.
Meanwhile the British government said it has formally asked the country’s medicines regulator to assess whether a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University should be authorised for use.
United Kingdom Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he had asked the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to determine whether the vaccine “meets rigorous safety standards.”
The regulator also said it could not give a time frame for possible approval of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump has said that delivery of the coronavirus vaccine would begin next week and the week after. Donald Trump said the coronavirus vaccine would initially be sent to front-line workers, medical personnel and senior citizens.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he will not take a coronavirus vaccine. Brazil has the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world. Bolsonaro said, “I’m telling you, I’m not going to take it. It’s my right.”
The president has repeatedly said Brazilians will not be required to be vaccinated when a coronavirus vaccine becomes widely available. In October, he joked on Twitter that vaccination would be required only for his dog.
