European Union officials consider use of Russian COVID-19 vaccine

Brussels, April 13 (RHC)-- In Brussels, European Union officials are deciding whether to allow emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, after many European nations suspended use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for younger people amid reports of rare incidents of blood clots. 

In clinical trials, the two-dose Sputnik V outperformed AstraZeneca with over 90% efficacy at preventing COVID-19.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand emergency use of its monoclonal antibody cocktail.  Regeneron says a clinical trial showed its drug reduced the risk of symptomatic infection by over 80% among people who lived in the same household as someone who tested positive for coronavirus.