Russia's Omicron Vaccine Version Could Become Available in 2022

A media statement issued today says the Gamaleya Institute believes both Sputnik vaccines will neutralize the latest SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variant known as Omicron and has started the necessary studies to confirm this assumption.

Based in Russia, the Gamaleya Institute is deploying existing protocols and has already begun developing the new version of the Sputnik vaccine adapted to Omicron.

The new Sputnik Omicron vaccine version can be ready for mass-scale production in 45 days.

This statement indicates several hundred million Sputnik Omicron boosters could be provided if needed to international markets in early 2022, with over 3 billion doses available throughout the year.

The Sputnik vaccine's efficacy is based on the heterogeneous boosting approach using different vectors for two shots.

Pioneered by the Gamaleya Institute, a proven adenoviral vector platform triggers a broader immune response than mRNA vaccines, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, commented on November 29, 2021.

"The Gamaleya Institute believes Sputnik V and Sputnik Light will neutralize Omicron as they have the highest efficacy against other mutations. However, in the unlikely case a modification is needed, we will provide several hundred million of Sputnik Omicron boosters by February 20, 2022".

Authorized in August 2020, the Sputnik V vaccine is available in seventy-one countries.

Founded in 1891, the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology was named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.