Russia, AstraZeneca to test combination of COVID-19 shots

The company announced on December 11 a study to test the combination, and on Monday signed a memorandum of cooperation with Moscow-based medical research facility the Gamaleya Institute, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and Russian drug maker R-Pharm.

AstraZeneca developed its vaccine with Oxford University. The Gamaleya Institute developed Sputnik V, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund bankrolled the project.

Speaking at a teleconference marking the signing of the memorandum, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed this cooperation.

He said, "It will make it possible to achieve a breakthrough while working on vaccines and on a number of other vitally important medicines."

The trials are expected to start "in the nearest future," according to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

In August, Russia was criticized for giving regulatory approval to Sputnik V, after the vaccine was only been tested on a few dozen people.

This month, Russian authorities started mass vaccinations with Sputnik V, even though it is still undergoing advanced studies among tens of thousands of people needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness.

A conclusion based on 78 infections among nearly 23,000 participants says the Russian vaccine is 91% effective and the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University suggests it is safe and about 70 percent effective.

Health officials hope to rely on the British vaccine due to its comparatively low cost, availability, and ease of use.

However, questions about its effectiveness on older individuals remain.