TOMSK, Nov 23 – RIA Tomsk. Experts from the Tomsk
National Research Medical Center (TNRMC) of the Russian Academy of
Sciences at a press conference at the RIA Tomsk media center on Tuesday
refuted rumors about the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on the human
genome, as it does not contain the live virus.
Earlier it
was reported that the Tomsk region was among the nine subjects with the
lowest COVID vaccination rate. Compulsory vaccination for doctors,
teachers, officials, law enforcement officers, service providers and
students has been introduced in the region since October 15.
"The
fears circulating on the internet and in the media that the vaccine
somehow affects our genome, that complications develop, which are then
inherited by the next generations, are completely unfounded. Safety has
been proven by all relevant stages of clinical trials and, in addition,
the vaccines do not contain live material," Vadim Stepanov, Director of
the Tomsk National Research Medical Center (TNRMC), told reporters.
He
was supported by Evgeny Sherstoboev, Head of the Head of the Department
of Immunopharmacology of Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology
and Regenerative Medicine of Tomsk NRMC, who shared the results of the
EpiVacCorona vaccine safety study at the Research Institute. According
to him, studies conducted on animals showed that the vaccine had no
toxic effect on the functioning of various organs and systems of
laboratory animals, including the immune system.
At the
same time, the TNRMC director noted that the vaccination does not
provide a 100% guarantee for each individual because its effectiveness
is assessed on "large samples". Initial estimates put the efficacy of
the Sputnik V vaccine at more than 95%, and everyone could be in the 5%
range. Nevertheless, by getting vaccinated, Tomsk residents reduce their
own risk and protect their surroundings.
"We have a lower
vaccination rate in Russia than in the rest of the world. In Russia 37%
of people are vaccinated, while the global average is 42%. It is a
shame for the country that you and I are not taking advantage of the
outstanding success of our own medicine and medical science," Stepanov
said, highlighting the fact that 67 countries have approved Sputnik V.
It
was previously reported that four COVID-19 vaccine - Gam-COVID-Vac
(Sputnik V), CoviVac and EpiVacCorona (the latter two drugs are
prescribed for medical indications), and Sputnik Lite, for
re-vaccination and vaccination of COVID-19 over-vaccinated, are used in
the Tomsk region. According to the regional administration, as of
November 23, 445,553 people had received the first component of the
vaccination and 382,524 had completed the immunization.
Evgeny Sherstoboev, Head of the Department of Immunopharmacology of Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine of Tomsk National Research Medical Center