OREANDA-NEWS. The Sputnik V vaccine seems to be more effective than other drugs against the Omicron strain. This was announced on Wednesday, December 12, by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with members of the government.

“Apparently, Sputnik V is indeed working quite effectively. Maybe even more effective than other vaccines that are used in the world. In any case, the neutralization of the virus is obvious, we need to increase vaccination, ”Putin said.

At the same time, the head of state noted the increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in different countries of the world. According to the Russian leader, this once again underlines the correctness of the decision to send a group of Russian specialists to South Africa.

“Once again, I want to thank the President of South Africa and colleagues who provided the opportunity to work with this strain (Omicron) Right at the place where it originated, where it was discovered. I hope that here we will also have certain advantages in terms of the timeliness of making the necessary decisions, "Putin concluded.

As the President noted, the situation is difficult, and the Russian Federation is on the eve of possible outbreaks of disease.

In turn, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova drew attention to the fact that the data on the decline in the incidence of COVID-19 in Russia is not entirely realistic, since there is a decrease in the level of testing for coronavirus in 66 regions. She added that in 12 regions of the Russian Federation over the past holidays, the herd immunity to COVID-19 decreased.

The director of the Gamaleya Center of the Russian Ministry of Health, Alexander Gintsburg, said on January 12 that the Sputnik V vaccine does not require modifications for the new Omicron strain. This is how the Russian vaccine differs from the mRNA preparations from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna.