Denying Doubts, Russia Publishes Research Data On Sputnik V Vaccine

Sputnik V vaccine (wikimedia commons)

JAKARTA - Russia has received criticism regarding the transparency of the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V. Russia has started publishing research data and information related to the development of the Sputnik V vaccine to the public.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which manages funding for the development of a vaccine called Sputnik V, as well as the Gamaleya Institute, which carries out vaccine research, stated that they have now published data on the approach to the human adenovirus research base.

"RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute strive for maximum transparency [...] so we post all the information about the adenovirus vaccine on sputnikvaccine.com," said RDIF Chief Executive Kirill Dmitriev in Moscow, Russia, as quoted by Antara, Friday, August 21.

Russia chose the human adenovirus research base for the COVID-19 vaccine because it said it had the clearest and best results against a number of infectious diseases, for example Ebola.

Dmitriev also said that this approach in vaccine development has been carried out since 1953, and the United States Army has been using it from 1971 to the present.

Dmitriev's explanation was a response to a number of skewed responses to the regulatory approval given to the Sputnik V vaccine. Previously, the Sputnik V vaccine was considered by some to be too early because the Russian government had never disclosed research data or information to the public.

One of the strongest critics is the United States, with Health Minister Alex Azar accusing Russia of covering up information related to research and clinical testing results of Sputnik V.

"The data from the initial test results have not been made public, so they are not transparent," Azar told reporters in a conference call on August 12, a day after Russia announced it was the first country to have a registered COVID-19 vaccine.

Next week, Russia will run a new Phase III clinical trial, as an advanced stage to assess the efficacy, immunogenicity (process of triggering an immune response), and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine. The clinical trial involves about 40,000 people, starting from the territory of the country itself.

"The results of the clinical trial stages will hopefully be published this August in a number of leading medical magazines. [...] and we plan to add new content to the vaccine website with new details in the future," said Dmitriev.