New Covid-19 trials to test a combination of Sputnik and Oxford vaccines

Scientists from the United Kingdom and Russia are teaming up for a trial test of the Sputnik V and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. The idea is to see whether mixing the two vaccines can result in a better immune response against Covid-19. 

Oxford recently made a publication that showed success for their dose during trials. 

Researchers are still collecting the effectiveness of the vaccine in older age groups as they await approval from UK regulator MHRA. 

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AstraZeneca intends to explore a combination of its jab with other adenovirus vaccines to see if results in a stronger immune response and greater protections.

Both the Sputnik V and Oxford vaccines introduce a harmless part of the genetic code of the Covid-19 virus into the body. The body thus develops stronger immunity, rendering a second or third jab less effective. This explains why Oxford has achieved more progress in issuing out half a dose then a full one - rather than two full doses. Several other vaccine combinations are planned in an effort to approach the challenge from different angles. 

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The Oxford vaccine was made in Britain in partnership with AstraZeneca while Russia’s Sputnik vaccine was developed by Gamaleya Research Institute in Moscow. Their similarities stem from their underlying Sars-CoV-2 spike protein.

This means they work differently when compared to their Pfizer-BioNTech counterparts which are now approved in Saudi Arabia, Canada, Bahrain, and the United Kingdom. Early results from late-stage Sputnik trials reveal promising results. Russia is among the first countries to register a Covid-19 vaccine despite only testing it on a few people. The vaccine is now available for all Russians in a mass vaccination campaign.