By NG Seruela
The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID 19 announced that the arrival of the 50-K Sputnik V vaccine second doses is delayed due to “ongoing upgrades and latest developments on the vaccine.”
In a statement on Wednesday (June 23), NTF Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the NTF Vaccine Cluster has received a formal communication on June 20 from a Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) representative saying that the arrival of the Sputnik V’s component II vaccines will be deferred to a later date.
The RDIF is yet to update the national government on the definite delivery date of the vaccines.
The Sputnik V’s Component II vaccines are intended as the second dose for those who have received the brand’s Component I.
“We have already informed all Local Government Units who have administered the first dose of Sputnik V to their constituents that the schedule for the second shot will likewise be pushed back and will be rescheduled,” vaccine czar Galvez assured.
The task force also emphasized that the delay in the delivery will not compromise the efficacy of the vaccines.
According to Galvez, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) recommends that “persons aged 18 years and older may receive two vaccine doses at least 21 days apart.”
“The Gamaleya Institute has provided real world data that Sputnik V delivers an efficacy rate of 79.4% on the 28th day after the first shot of Component I,” he added.
He guaranteed that the same level of protection will be achieved despite taking the second dose in a later time than scheduled since the said vaccine is a viral vector-type vaccine that “require longer interval periods for the two shots.”
He also announced that the Gamaleya Institute formally expressed its intention to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “amend the interval period between the two doses of Sputnik V from the minimum 21 days to 90 days,” which the latter is looking into.
“We seek your kind understanding that this development is beyond the control of the Philippine government. The manufacturer is seeking more ways to improve and upgrade the vaccine that would be more beneficial and would be more effective in battling the emergence of new variants,” Galvez concluded. -rir
