Pakistan approves Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

Islamabad: Pakistan’s health officials on Tuesday approved the emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

“Sputnik V has received the emergency use authorisation in Pakistan” and has been approved by the country’s Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), health officials confirmed Gulf News.

The Russian vaccine is administered in two shots, 21 days apart. Sputnik V vaccine, which has been developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, is reported to be 91.6 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID-19. It can be stored at normal fridge temperatures, making transportation and distribution convenient.

“Pakistan is one of the most populated countries in the world, and the decision to include Sputnik V in the national vaccine portfolio is an important step to diversify it and protect people’s health” said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund which has financed the vaccine development. “Emergency use authorisation of Sputnik V has become possible thanks to its high efficacy, safety and a well-researched platform of human adenoviral vectors,” Dmitriev added.

Sputnik V facts

• 91.6% efficacy • The two-dose vaccine is administered 3 weeks apart • One of the three vaccines in the world with an efficacy of over 90% • It can be stored at normal fridge temperatures • UK and Russian scientists are collaborating for a joint clinical trial of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca to further improve the efficacy

Pakistan is the 22nd country in the world to approve the Russian vaccine, which has been registered for use in the UAE, Hungary, Turkmenistan and Argentina among other countries. Sputnik V is reported to be one of the three coronavirus vaccines that have an efficacy of more than 90 per cent, along with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Sputnik V is the third coronavirus vaccine to be approved in Pakistan after China’s Sinopharm and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Meanwhile, a fourth vaccine candidate, China’s CanSinoBio, has also completed clinical trials in Pakistan and showed 74.8 per cent efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases and 100 per cent in stopping severe cases of the disease in Pakistan, special assistant to PM on health, Dr Faisal Sultan said.

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