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Let us discuss the russian vaccine #thread , news have been circulating that @Hamad_hassan20 asked for the russian vaccine, also a recent meeting took place between @Hassan_B_Diab and the russian ambassador to discuss getting the vaccine , then today we had this
Since these news arrived #healthNerds, and other HCPs alerted that the Russian vaccine does not meet the standards in terms of trials to be on the market, this is basically because we dont have access to initial phase trials , and apparently no phase 3 trial was done
@ZakiaDimassiMD already detailed in a thread the different phases of the development of a treatment which are the guarantee of having both the proof of efficiency of that treatment and also that the presence of adverse effects doesnt outweigh this efficiency
Here is the link to that thread, which i invite you all to read carefully https://twitter.com/ZakiaDimassiMD/status/1286218374016577536?s=20
So basically the russian vaccine is said to have passed the first phase of trials, but we do not have access to these data, which is not usual , other vaccines under development, shared their data in scientific journals, which is the standard
Also the Russian vaccine did not have phase 3 trials, those are wider trials to confirm and expand on safety and effectiveness of the vaccine which are supposed to be shown in phase 1/2 trials for which i remind, we do not have the published data
The Russian announcement is by these standards, a merely political one, to score points on who got the vaccine earlier, while what we need, what the whole world needs is an effective, and safe vaccine, be it Russian, Chinese, American , French or British
So one more time, we cannot lower standards , treatments have adverse effects that can be dangerous if not well studied, there is a process that should be respected albeit long, even that process is being accelerated given the global emergency.
All in all, it is not acceptable that Lebanon engages with Russian authorities to start importing a vaccine that doesnt meet the standards, once again, on purpose, or by mere incompetence, authorities are making bad decisions that might endanger Lebanese lives
Because 1- we do not have published proof of the effectiveness of the vaccine, so it might give a sens of security that doesnt exist in reality although i hope it does 2- because no phase 3 trials on its safety, so adverse effects might outweigh a potential benefit
It is important authorities @mophleb @Hassan_B_Diab review this decision, and use evidence based medecine to secure the future vaccine and not put lives of Lebanese on risk @thehealthnerds @ZakiaDimassiMD @planetperfume @malackos @Sgf98 @KnowYourMeal @MiaAtoui @iosonorami
@IyadAlMohtar @kboudargham @assafnicole @Fatima_AlSayah @RH4N6 @Beirutspring @MokhtarGhazzawi @RimaLBCI @riadkobaissi @ALJADEEDNEWS @LBCI_NEWS @wael_atallah @mtvlebanon
