Prognosis

Russia Says Early Data Show Its Covid-19 Shots 92% Effective

Preliminary findings on Sputnik V vaccine from phase 3 trial
News comes after Pfizer said its candidate is 90% effective

A heath worker draws from a vial of Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine at a clinic in Moscow.Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

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By Henry Meyer and Stepan Kravchenko

November 11, 2020 at 9:13 AM UTC

Updated on

November 11, 2020 at 4:52 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The developer of Russia’s flagship vaccine against Covid-19 said it shows a 92% efficacy rate in preventing cases of the illness, as the country pushes for a top slot in the fight against the coronavirus after a rival product by Pfizer Inc. reported a similar breakthrough.

The preliminary Phase 3 findings are based on results from 20,000 volunteers who were given the first dose, including more than 16,000 who also received a second injection, its developers Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund said in an announcement on Twitter Wednesday.