OREANDA-NEWS. A modified Indian strain of coronavirus was found in Moscow. This was announced by the head of the Gamaleya Center Alexander Gintsburg, Interfax reports.

According to him, studies of the effectiveness of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against this strain are underway. The drug has shown high efficacy against the Indian strain, Gunzburg noted.

“Now we are determining the range of strains that circulate in Moscow - and here there is already more than one Wuhan strain, there is also a modified Indian one. We are now studying the epidemiological effectiveness of Sputnik V to these strains, "Interfax quotes the scientist.

As the head of the Gamaleya center explained, Sputnik V creates a very large reserve of antibody concentration and protects the body from the Indian strain.

“When it comes to the effectiveness [of the vaccine] in the laboratory, there is a 1.4-2.4-fold decrease in comparison with the serum obtained from the Wuhan strains. It's not critical at all,” he said.

On June 15, Gunzburg allowed a Moscow strain of coronavirus to appear in Russia. According to him, the Gamaleya Center is studying the effectiveness of Sputnik V against this type of virus.

Earlier on June 16, it became known that the Indian strain was found in 90% of the investigated Russian coronavirus samples obtained by scientists in June. It was noted that some experts associate the June peak in the incidence of COVID-19 in the country with the Indian variant of the coronavirus that has penetrated into Russia.