News that the Russians are going ahead with their 'fast-tracked' Sputnik V vaccine for Covid-19 is concerning (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/12/a-poor-vaccine-is-worse-than-no-vaccine-the-challenges-faced-by-scientists). Specialists point out that Phase 3 safety testing has not been completed for this vaccine, raising concerns. One concern is the phenomenon of Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE), where antibodies produced by exposure to a closely-related virus, appear to allow the target virus to 'hitch a ride'. In this case, treatment would make the infected animal sicker. ADE was a factor making producing a vaccine for SARS (and Covid-19 is SARS-CoV-2) extremely difficult. Any such effect would certainly inhibit the general take up of any vaccines. Another concern is that the vaccine may produce insufficient immunity to prevent viral infection. This could, however, increase the selection pressure on the virus to become a more virulent (making things worse for us all). There are about 150 vaccines undergoing trials in different parts of the world. The scientists maintain that the world needs the best (i.e. safest, most effective and easiest to make) vaccine, rather than the first! It does seem that the Russians have 'jumped the gun' to score political (and, perhaps, economic) points. Life will only get back to anything like normal if there is cooperation between the vaccine developers, followed by making the selected treatment available to all (irrespective of their ability to pay).
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