The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Russia’s Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine an emergency use authorization (EUA), the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 announced today (Aug. 23).
Sputnik Light is a single-dose vaccine developed by Gamaleya Research Institute which uses the human adenovirus vector platform. This is the ninth COVID-19 vaccine to receive an EUA in the Philippines, and the second single-dose vaccine in the country.
“We will follow up iyong more or less 10 million natin na doses… 10 million treatments – meaning 10 milyon na tayo ang makikinabang nito ng full protection, considering that the Sputnik Light is one dose,” NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said.
“Iyong Gamaleya Sputnik Light is like Johnson & Johnson – that it has higher efficacy, considering na single,” Galvez added.
The vaccines that have been granted emergency approval in the country are Pfizer, Covaxin, AstraZeneca, Moderna, CoronaVac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, and Janssen.
Galvez said the FDA may also grant full authorization to Pfizer and Moderna by September, allowing their sale in the market. He said the developments in the vaccine rollout can lead to population protection in Metro Manila by October or November.
“And the other regions, na nakikita namin ‘yung Region 4A, 3, 11, Region 6, Region 10, and even Region 7, we are trying to push for more accelerated vaccination, para maka-catch up sila sa NCR [National Capital Region],” he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured that financial aid distribution or ayuda to lockdown-affected residents will continue despite Metro Manila’s shift to modified enhanced community quarantine. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG- jlo
