when the pudding lacks proof
The most important news in healthcare: Friday, May 28th
Over the last few months, we’ve all heard plenty about Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J’s COVID-19 vaccines. You may have even heard family and friends arguing over which one they’d prefer. However, in much of the world, none of these three are even options. Today, we’re exploring the only COVID-19 vaccine that millions around the world have been or will be offered — Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
Today’s Pulse is 500 words, or a 5 minute read.
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COVID-19 VaccinesWe totally trust you, but can we see those receipts?
The pulse:
Yesterday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) signed an agreement with UNICEF to supply up to 220 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine in 2021. The UN humanitarian organization is hoping this will allow for faster distribution to countries currently struggling with vaccination.
Is that a new vaccine?
Not quite — it was actually approved by the Russian equivalent of the FDA back in August 2020 after being tested on just 38 people (you read that right, 38) and before a Phase 3 clinical trial had been completed. Even back then, many top scientists were skeptical of the vaccine and published an open letter critical of the approval decision.
How effective is the vaccine?
The Gamaleya Research Institute — where the vaccine was developed — boasted a purported 92% efficacy rate based on the Phase 3 data. The vaccine gained further credibility when the institute published its data analysis in The Lancet, often considered the most prestigious medical journal in the world. However, Gamaleya did not include the raw data at that time, and still has not released it, despite multiple requests. The institute’s unwillingness to share the data has led to concern that data manipulation may be a factor behind the high efficacy rate.
How many people have already gotten it?
So far, nearly 4 million people in Russia have received both doses of the vaccine. It has also been used in Belarus and Serbia, and nearly 50 countries have placed orders for shipment. The United States has not approved the vaccine for use.
This week, Russia announced it will supply 220 million doses to UNICEF for global distribution. However, this order is still contingent on the World Health Organization authorizing an emergency use listing for Sputnik V, which has yet to come. Russia is also in talks with GAVI — a global health organization committed to delivering vaccines to developing countries — about Sputnik V doses.
Source: Times of India
Russian influence
The Sputnik V vaccine has been described as a tool of “soft power” for Russia to leverage influence on a global stage. The name, after all, harkens back to the days of the Cold War, when Russia succeeded in launching the first satellite into space. In a world where scarce COVID-19 resources are coveted, vaccine diplomacy may in fact be the best way to curry favor with potential allies.
Bottom line it for me:
Despite Russia’s refusal to release its raw data, Sputnik V has become a hot commodity on the world market, and may help Russia wield more global power.