RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, is about 83% effective against the Delta variant first identified in India. That is a lower percentage than previously predicted, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced.
Despite the drop in effectiveness, authorities blamed the new strain for the increase in coronavirus cases in June and July and the population’s unwillingness to be vaccinated, despite the widespread availability of vaccines, according to the TASS news agency.
The vaccine’s developers said in June that Sputnik V was about 90% effective against the Delta variant.
Despite the lower efficacy, Gamaleya Institute Director Alexander Gintsburg stressed in an interview with Izvestia newspaper that the vaccine is safe and effective against all coronavirus strains. Gamaleya was responsible for developing the vaccine.
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