While the data is encouraging, it comes from early and small trials. The Russian authors of the report acknowledge that more studies will be needed to determine if the vaccine actually works. They added that the country is now planning a 40,000-volunteer phase-three trial that will include a wider range of people. There are 176 coronavirus vaccines in the works. Here's how the top drugmakers see the race for a cure playing out in 2020 and 2021 and when the first shots might be available.
All observed side effects from the vaccine were mild or moderate, with the vast majority being mild according to the study. The most common side effects were pain at injection site , increase in body temperature , headache , tiredness or weakness , and muscle and joint pain . And while the studies recorded encouraging immune responses, it's still not clear what type of immune response might protect people from infection or disease. The researchers note that levels of neutralizing antibodies, virus-fighting proteins that play a critical role in warding off invading germs, were lower in the Russian study than in reports from other leading vaccine candidates developed with different technologies.
Two public health experts at Johns Hopkins University, who were not involved in this study, called the results "encouraging but small." "The immunogenicity bodes well, although nothing can be inferred on immunogenicity in older age groups, and clinical efficacy for any COVID-19 vaccine has not yet been shown," Dr. Naor Bar-Zeev and Dr. Tom Inglesby wrote in
High comedy watching democrats turn into Anti-Vaxxers
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You know with the poisoning of adversaries, I’m really skeptical about taking vaccines from Russia.