Sputnik V Vaccine Granted EUA, 3 Million Doses Ordered for PH

Three million doses of Russia’s Gamaleya National Center Sputnik V coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine were ordered by the Philippine government as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the vaccine.

According to National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. during a palace press briefing, the Philippines’ initial request was for more or less three million doses, to arrive either on April or May.

An initial meeting which will cover negotiations between the Philippine government and Russia for the vaccine is set on Tuesday.

Galvez Jr. further added that around twenty to thirty countries are already using the Sputnik V vaccine.

“More or less, 20 to 30 countries na po ang gumagamit na po ng (are using the) Gamaleya Sputnik V. And we are requesting na mabigyan tayo ng (to procure) at least two million man lang this coming April,” he added.

Emergency use authorization

FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said the Sputnik V vaccine was granted an EUA because of its efficacy rate of 91.6 percent in preventing COVID-19, according to data from ongoing phase 3 trials of the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Domingo further added that the efficacy rate was consistent among age groups of 18 and older.

“The efficacy rate is consistent among all age groups, 18 and older,” he said.

Sputnik V is the fourth vaccine to be granted EUA by the country, joining AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac.

The Sputnik V vaccine, similar to other vaccines granted EUA, is a two-dose vaccine administered 21 days apart in doses of 0.5 ml intramuscular injections. (GFB)