The Russian vaccine ‘Sputnik V’, which had left several doubts in the experts when the data were presented, could be the lifeline for vaccination campaigns in Europe, given the impasse resulting from the delays in the delivery of Pfizer and Moderna doses . From Bassetti to Ricciardi, here’s what the experts think.
Bassetti
“Given what is happening with the vaccines we have approved, Pfizer and Moderna, which at the moment do not allow us to shelter with doses and the announcement of AstraZeneca that it will deliver a smaller quantity of doses, obviously we will have problems with the campaign. I therefore believe that we must think of alternative solutions, Hungary has already done so by purchasing Russian vaccines. Let’s do it too “. Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the San Martino hospital in Genoa and member of the Covid-19 crisis unit of Liguria underlines this to Adnkronos Salute. “We also open to us to this vaccine which in the end is very similar to those of AstraZeneca and J&J because it uses another virus (adenovirus) as a vector. According to the data, the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine is not discouraging. Now in an emergency, the goal must be to vaccinate the greatest number of people and to do this you need doses “, adds the infectious disease specialist.” Every solution is good when you can increase the number of people vaccinated – warns Bassetti – then in 2022 others will arrive vaccines and can also be used because this will not be a ‘one-off’ vaccination, but will have to be repeated over the years. I personally am in favor of the Russian vaccine and also the Chinese one, we check safety with the European and Italian control agencies, and we too start with alternative solutions “.
Andreoni
Given the impasse in the Italian vaccination campaign, the result of delays in the delivery of doses, it could also turn to the Russian vaccine ‘Sputnik V? “In my opinion, yes, always with the prior authorization of the EMA. The Russian and also the Chinese vaccine have been extensively tested and proven and are similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Now our priority is to vaccinate quickly and we can only do it with hundreds of thousands of doses. We need to accelerate and do it with other vaccines as well. “Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of Simit (Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases) and head of Infectious Diseases at the Tor Vergata Polyclinic in Rome, underlines this to Adnkronos Salute.
I pray
“It takes the transition to EMA and data transparency, but I see no preclusions to its use in Italy“, says virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco, professor at the State University of Milan to Adnkronos Salute. The Russian” is a vaccine of the same type as that developed by AstraZeneca – he adds – We have seen how indispensable it is to have a strong adhesion to the campaign vaccinal, that the data on the trials are transparent and passed through the scrutiny of the EMA and AIFA “.
Ricciardi
Is there a possibility that Italy will open to the Russian ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine? “Not until it is approved by AIFA“. This is how Walter Ricciardi, professor of Hygiene at the Catholic University of Rome and consultant to the Minister of Health, replies to Adnkronos Health. On the need to have more ‘weapons’ available in the vaccination campaign and not just the two vaccines available today, Pfizer and Moderna, “we hope – warns Ricciardi – that they approve AstraZeneca”.
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