With the proliferation of coronavirus variations and the possibility of a third wave increasing, it's more critical than ever to have effective vaccines on hand. While there are presently three COVID-19 vaccines available (with two more on the way), the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has finally given regulatory approval to begin phase III clinical trials for the much-discussed COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik Light.
Sputnik Light, the Russian COVID vaccine, has received a lot of attention in recent months due to its excellent efficacy and preventive rate.It is, however, distinct from another vaccine, Sputnik V, which has been authorised for use in India and is also available.
What is Sputnik Light, and how does it work? What distinguishes it from Sputnik V?
Sputnik Light is a newer, different vaccine developed in partnership with RDIF by Russia's Gamaleya Institute. While Sputnik V (also known as Gam-Covid-Vac) is a two-dose vaccination that was one of the first publicly available vaccines in the world (licenced in August 2020), Sputnik Light is reported to be the first component in the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine to create antibodies in the system.
Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccination that targets immune cells to stimulate antibody synthesis, whereas Sputnik Light is a form of the vaccine that includes components from the other vaccine. Sputnik Light, like another single-dose COVID vaccination developed by Johnson & Johnson, transports required information into the system using recombinant human adenovirus number 26. The DGCI's Subject Expert Committee recently approved the conduct of Phase III clinical studies for Sputnik Light (SEC).
Although it was previously claimed that phase III trials for the single-dose form would not be required (due to the vaccine's similarity to the Sputnik V vaccine), the trials have now been approved to investigate the vaccine's safety and immunogenicity profiles. Phase III trials, which are the largest and most significant for any vaccine or treatment, involve a higher number of participants in clinical trials, and the vaccine is only sent for final approval after the trials have been adequately analysed.
While the Phase III studies have already taken place in Russia, the DGCI will be keeping an eye on the outcomes, as well as updated results from Dr. Reddy’s.
Dosage and efficacy
Sputnik Light vaccine differs from Sputnik V in several ways, one of which being its revolutionary single-dose application. If authorised, it will be only the second single-dose COVID vaccine available to the general public. While it works in a similar way to the Sputnik V vaccination, it is said to elicit a comparably efficient and protective immune response with just one dose.
The Sputnik Light dosage is reported to create a promising and effective immunological response, according to the efficacy rate. Sputnik Light has a 79.4 percent success rate, according to clinical research done in Russia and published results in The Lancet. A two-dose regimen, i.e. choosing Sputnik V, is said to be beneficial.
How effective is it against variants ?
With several COVID-19 variations constituting a hazard and making vaccines less effective, individuals may be hesitant to choose a vaccine that promises higher, longer-lasting protection. Despite the claimed efficacy rate, it is believed that Sputnik Light is less effective against the South African Beta version of COVID-19, while providing good protection against other variants, including the lethal Delta variant.
While the J&J one-dose vaccination has received criticism for its diminishing potency and the need for subsequent doses, it is yet uncertain how long Sputnik Light will be effective.
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