Ginzburg urged to test "Satellite V" against a new strain of COVID

The effectiveness of the vaccine “Sputnik V” against a new version of the coronavirus PJ.2.1 needs to be checked, said the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Gamalei of the Ministry of Health of Russia. According to the scientist of Kazan Federal University Albert Rizvanov, the strain may appear in Russia in the near future or already spread in the country, remaining unnoticed.

Alexander Ginzburg, scientific director of the Gamalea Center, noted that the spread of the new variant requires epidemiological monitoring. He said he would evaluate the effectiveness of the PJ vaccine. 2.1 is possible only during experiments with antibodies produced after vaccination.

The PJ.2.1 variant was first identified in May 2026. Cases of infection were registered in Canada, the United States and Spain. It has a large number of mutations and an increased ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor, which the virus uses to enter human cells. According to Rizvanov, there is no reason to consider it more dangerous than other coronavirus variants, and the appearance in the country will not necessarily lead to widespread distribution.

Invitro infectious disease doctor Andrei Pozdnyakov noted that due to changes in the antigenic structure, the new variant may be worse detected by rapid tests. For diagnosis, he recommended using PCR.

In September, Rospotrebnadzor reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory infections in Russia, including COVID-19. During the 38th week of 2026, 734,000 cases were registered. According to the agency, 99.4% of the identified pathogens were viruses of a non-influenza nature, mainly rhinoviruses.