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IN Currently, vaccination around the world is carried out with two vaccines against covid-19. The others are still in the testing or delivery process.
One of these two vaccines, which was registered first, is the Russian Sputnik V, developed by the Gamalea Institute. It is a DNA vaccine.
It has been developed using relatively new technology. It uses human adenovirus vectors to reach cells.
Instead of the original viral DNA of the adenovirus, vectors transfer the DNA of the vaccine. It binds to cellular DNA and causes the production of proteins that are the same as those of the coronavirus. In the case of Sputnik V, this is the peak protein with which SARS-CoV-2 attaches itself to cells.
The process is almost the same as if the cell were infected with the real virus, but with some important differences.
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The coronavirus acts as a parasite. It injects its RNA into the nucleus of a human cell and causes it to produce millions of copies before it dies.
In Sputnik V, the cell produces only proteins, not viruses, so there is no risk of infecting other cells and infection. She then died, as well as when she was infected with SARS-CoV-2.
If it doesn’t die on its own, it will be killed by T lymphocytes, the immune cells created by the body to stop the so-called vaccine-mimicked infection. That is, the chance that cells with introduced DNA will survive and cause mutations or even cancer in the long term is theoretically negligible.
However, for T lymphocytes to detect infected cells, the latter must be marked in some way. This is the job of B lymphocytes. They produce antibodies that bind to viruses and serve as markers.
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The vaccine aims to trigger exactly this immune response. In response to the coronavirus protein produced, antibodies are produced that are specific for it and, when actually infected, will be effective against SARS-CoV-2.
What are the risks? Due to the very short trial time (several months), the possible long-term side effects of the vaccine are unknown. Although theoretically the possibility of mutations as a result of the change in cellular DNA is minimal, it still cannot be completely ruled out without additional tests, which will take years.
Furthermore, Sputnik V carries the usual risk of too strong an immune response for each vaccine. Tests carried out so far have shown that it is small enough to initiate vaccination.
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The other vaccine, which is already widely used, is Komirnati from the US company Pfizer and the German company Biontek. It is an RNA vaccine.
This is the latest technology. It uses the so-called messenger RNA. It inserts into human cells with special lipid capsules.
Unlike DNA vaccines, mRNA does not alter the genetic code of cells. It just reprograms cellular DNA to start making a viral protein. And in this case, it is the spine protein with which SARS-CoV-2 attaches itself to cells. As of now, the process is the same as for Sputnik V.
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In the long term, mRNA technology is considered safer because it does not pose a risk of cellular mutations.
However, the risk of an over-immune reaction is also present with this vaccine. Also, as with the Russian, the trial time so far is insufficient to ensure that there are no additional long-term side effects, especially for children and pregnant women. Theoretically, such effects should not exist.
“Sputnik V” shows a slightly lower efficiency: 91.4%. While in Komirnati it is 95%, according to the manufacturers of each of the two vaccines.
Bulgaria does not currently have a contract for the supply of the Russian vaccine. At the same time, vaccination with Komirnati will be free.
