The new Russian mRNA vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis may become more effective and cheaper than existing analogues, and also eliminate the need for revaccination every three years. This was reported to TASS by Nikolai Nikitin, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Virology at Moscow State University. The platform is being developed by the N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.
Currently, Russia uses two inactivated vaccines—Klesh-E-Vak and Encevir—that require booster shots every three years. In contrast, mRNA vaccines stimulate viral protein production directly in human cells, offering a potentially more stable immune response. Moreover, its production will be cheaper. The technology will also allow the drug to be quickly adapted to new strains of the virus.
“Since mRNA vaccines are artificially synthesized and do not rely on chicken cells in their production, unlike current vaccines, their manufacturing will be cheaper,” Nikitin explained.
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is not compulsory but is recommended for residents of endemic areas and individuals planning to visit these regions. In Russia, vaccination is available free of charge through the compulsory medical insurance policy at city polyclinics. The new mRNA vaccine, if approved, has the potential to significantly simplify the immunization schedule and enhance immunization effectiveness.
Earlier it became known that the Russian Ministry of Health registered Imuron-vac, Gamaleya Center’s new vaccine for immunotherapy of bladder cancer and prevention of recurrence after tumor removal. According to Aleksandr Gintsburg, director of the center, the vaccine is already actively used in postoperative treatment of cancer patients and is in high demand across CIS countries.
