Russia's Vaccine For COVID-19 Entered Phase 3 Clinical Trails Earlier This Week.

The vaccine named Sputnik V is a two-vector vaccine targetting SAS-CoV-2. The vaccine requires an initial injection and an additional booster shot 21 days later to confer 1-2 year immunity. During phases 1 and 2 trails, Russian scientists reported that all participants developed 100% immunity to COVID-19 with no adverse side effects.  

The Russian vaccine uses adenovirus vectors rAd26 and rAd5. The team behind the vaccine believes that is the only nation to make use of these two vectors together, rather than using just one of the vectors alone like Johnson and Johnson are doing.

To make the vectors, the disease-causing gene from the adenovirus is removed, then, a gene with the S protein from the SARS-CoV-2 Virus is inserted. The term believes that their two-vector approach will promote stronger immune responses. The Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) launched a new website to share the details of the new vaccine with the public and scientists around the world.