DISINFO: Bloomberg provides reasons to trust Russian vaccine Sputnik V
SUMMARY
Bloomberg journalist Sam Fazeli provides the list of reasons to trust Russian vaccine Sputnik V. These reasons are:
Russia with this vaccine is fifth on the list of vaccine makers with the most doses under contract through pre-purchase agreements;
Sputnik V has been tested in a phase III trial;
Efficacy at each interim analysis in the Sputnik V trial was consistently at 90% or above;
Sputnik V was developed using the kind of advanced vaccine technology employed in shots made by the AstraZeneca-Oxford University.
The journalist made evidence that the Sputnik V vaccine may well be as strong a candidate as the ones created in Western labs. He also stated that he would opt for a ride on Sputnik rather than a trip to CoronaVac’s golden stars.
RESPONSE
The claim advances a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative concerning the Russian-made coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V. The message is based on the manipulation and quotes taken out of context.
In the original text Sam Fazeli covered all doubts linked to Sputnik V. He wrote:
“Russia hasn’t released late-stage phase III data on its vaccine; all we have to go on are press announcements, similar to the situation with the Chinese shot made by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. The assumption is that regional health authorities have approved the Russian vaccine based on good efficacy and safety data, but there is no way of independently verifying these things without actually seeing it ourselves. That said, what we do know about Sputnik V and its design should give us some degree of confidence”.
He continued that
“efficacy at each interim analysis in the Sputnik V trial was consistently at 90% or above, based on comments in press releases”.
The evidence referred to in the original article is different than presented. The author wrote:
“At some point, I hope soon, the phase III data for the Sputnik V and CoronaVac vaccines will be published in a peer-reviewed journal so that we can make up our own minds about the robustness of their efficacy and safety”.
Sam Fazeli also said that he would prefer Sputnik V vaccine if “had to choose between the two” (when faced with a choice between this and the Chinese CoronaVac’s golden stars).
The same disinformation campaign includes statements such as Sputnik V is the World’s first coronavirus vaccine, 95% effective; There is a conspiracy ripening against Russian vaccine; EU’s decision not to purchase the Sputnik V is questionable, other vaccines may be dangerous.