The creators of "Sputnik V" learned how to quickly update the vaccine in case of COVID-19 mutation

According to the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg, now scientists are discussing whether full-fledged tests of the new drug should be carried out, or it will be possible to limit themselves to tests with a limited sample of up to 100 people.

“We are now developing actually two technologies, one of them has been developed, this is the same technology based on adenoviral vectors, where, according to the spike protein sequence, with a changed primary structure, literally, a new sequence is synthesized within a day, and the next day it is inserted already into the vector used, and practically you have a genetically engineered design that allows it to be used as a vaccine preparation”, - RIA Novosti quoted Gintsburg as saying.

If the use of a vaccine against a new strain will give a good protective effect on a small sample of patients, scientists believe that the developed drug can be put into production as soon as possible.

Messages about the emergence of new COVID-19 mutations in Russia appeared in January this year. First, scientists identified the so-called British strain in patients, and then the South African strain, which are more infectious.

The Ministry of Health notes that there is no mass infection with these strains in the country yet, but scientists continue to work on new types of protective drugs in the event of a new wave of a pandemic caused by modified COVID-19 subspecies brought into the country.

Mass vaccination of the country's residents with the Sputnik V vaccine began on January 18. Since April 1, the second domestic vaccine - "EpiVacCorona" from the "Vector" center, has entered the civil circulation, and in the coming weeks the third drug - the "CoviVac" vaccine from the Chumakov center is expected to arrive.

Meanwhile, there is not enough vaccine for all Russians, and the incidence of coronavirus in Russia is growing again. Over the past day, 9,200 cases have been registered. The Ministry of Health warned about the invasion of the third wave of COVID-19.