Russia's Chumakov Center designing coronavirus vaccine based on Delta variant - director
MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The Chumakov Center in Russia is working on a coronavirus vaccine that is modified to protect against the Delta variant, and it might be a combined vaccine, Chumakov Center Director Aidar Ishmukhametov said on Tuesday.
"Yes, indeed, [...] we have isolated the Delta strain, and we are going through the preparatory stages to design a new vaccine. This isn't about an upgrade, that statement isn't quite right, in fact, [...] instead of the previous Alpha strain, the Delta strain will be present in the vaccine," Ishmukhametov said on the Rossiya-24 television channel (VGTRK).
The new vaccine may be combined and consist of two components, Ishmukhametov said.
"We are considering these options, it could be a combination, a complex vaccine. [...] Of course, there will be two components of the same vaccine, anything else would make no sense or else it would be two vaccines," he said.
Ishmukhametov urged Russians not to wait for the appearance of new vaccines but get vaccinated with the registered ones.
"There should be absolutely no waiting, the available vaccines should be used because the development of a new vaccine will take some time," he said.
