6 ms·

The choice of name is interesting. Is this a throwback to the space race as in, “we got there first”?

by danjc 6y ago

lacker 6y ago
Yes.
Jetroid 6y ago
For those who didn't read the article yet, the vaccine is called 'Sputnik V'.
somesortofsystm 6y ago
Sputnik means travel companion. In the context of COVID-19, its probably a bit more surreal than it ought to be, name-wise ..
- tetromino_ 6y ago
  It's a two-component vaccine using two different adenovirus vectors. Hence "traveling companion" and "v(irus/ector)". Plus, of course, the name is a reminder of Soviet space achievements.
aldanor 6y ago
On August 11th, 2020 the Russian government announced the world's first release of a vaccine against COVID-19, referring to the vaccine as "Sputnik 5" (Gam-COVID-Vac) to reflect Russia's previous victories in the Space Race. ([1]) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_5
altcognito 6y ago
What's weird to me is this emphasis on being first. Most of the media trumpeting that there will be some huge advantage to being first seems wrong and misplaced. Even if you manage to create a vaccine, you still have to manufacture and convince everyone it is effective. Rollout is likely to be pretty slow and uneven. This will take months. In the meantime, other vaccines will be created that work just as well. The vaccine might be manufactured faster and be distributed more widely. Create a vaccine isn't planting a flag or even reaching a specific destination. Creating a vaccine is travelling a known distance in similar types of cars. There's only so fast you can go.
- lioeters 6y ago
  My take on this emphasis on being first: it's a reflection of how we view society as a competition, in business, warfare, and interpersonal relationships. To be "first to market", to have "first-mover advantage", is to demonstrate competence and superiority. Planting a flag on the moon was, partly, such a move. There's some truth to it, I believe, but the mentality is seemingly applied too broadly, to areas where there aren't any advantages - other than maybe reputation (which could be considered a real advantage). I agree with you that the apparent focus on "me first" is misplaced, when the effort to create a reliable vaccine is a global concern. The emphasis should be on its efficacy, in solving the immediate problem together.
thrwway34 6y ago
Well, their previous 'Sputnik', the Google alternative (sputnik.ru) failed miserably, so they're trying another one. And besides Chinese vaccine was first.
dehrmann 6y ago
I found it funny because Sputnik 2 took the first mammal into space, only to let it die in space.
- allarm 6y ago
  And you find it funny why exactly?
  - happymellon 6y ago
    Because Sputik has connotations to experimentation on animals, along with death? It isn't the death that is funny, it is that the name and its relationship with killing.
    - aldanor 6y ago
      This always reminds me of Trentemoller's music video honoring that flight (and the aforesaid mammal): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZPxvO1ftY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZPxvO1ftY

The choice of name is interesting. Is this a throwback to the space race as in, “we got there first”?

by danjc 6y ago

The choice of name is interesting. Is this a throwback to the space race as in, “we got there first”?

lacker 6y ago

Yes.

Jetroid 6y ago

For those who didn't read the article yet, the vaccine is called 'Sputnik V'.

somesortofsystm 6y ago

Sputnik means travel companion. In the context of COVID-19, its probably a bit more surreal than it ought to be, name-wise ..

tetromino_ 6y ago
It's a two-component vaccine using two different adenovirus vectors. Hence "traveling companion" and "v(irus/ector)". Plus, of course, the name is a reminder of Soviet space achievements.

aldanor 6y ago

On August 11th, 2020 the Russian government announced the world's first release of a vaccine against COVID-19, referring to the vaccine as "Sputnik 5" (Gam-COVID-Vac) to reflect Russia's previous victories in the Space Race. ([1]) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_5

altcognito 6y ago

What's weird to me is this emphasis on being first. Most of the media trumpeting that there will be some huge advantage to being first seems wrong and misplaced. Even if you manage to create a vaccine, you still have to manufacture and convince everyone it is effective. Rollout is likely to be pretty slow and uneven. This will take months. In the meantime, other vaccines will be created that work just as well. The vaccine might be manufactured faster and be distributed more widely. Create a vaccine isn't planting a flag or even reaching a specific destination. Creating a vaccine is travelling a known distance in similar types of cars. There's only so fast you can go.

lioeters 6y ago
My take on this emphasis on being first: it's a reflection of how we view society as a competition, in business, warfare, and interpersonal relationships. To be "first to market", to have "first-mover advantage", is to demonstrate competence and superiority. Planting a flag on the moon was, partly, such a move. There's some truth to it, I believe, but the mentality is seemingly applied too broadly, to areas where there aren't any advantages - other than maybe reputation (which could be considered a real advantage). I agree with you that the apparent focus on "me first" is misplaced, when the effort to create a reliable vaccine is a global concern. The emphasis should be on its efficacy, in solving the immediate problem together.

thrwway34 6y ago

Well, their previous 'Sputnik', the Google alternative (sputnik.ru) failed miserably, so they're trying another one. And besides Chinese vaccine was first.

dehrmann 6y ago

I found it funny because Sputnik 2 took the first mammal into space, only to let it die in space.

allarm 6y ago
And you find it funny why exactly?
- happymellon 6y ago
  Because Sputik has connotations to experimentation on animals, along with death? It isn't the death that is funny, it is that the name and its relationship with killing.
  - aldanor 6y ago
    This always reminds me of Trentemoller's music video honoring that flight (and the aforesaid mammal): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZPxvO1ftY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZPxvO1ftY