Gov’t awaits FDA report on Sputnik V after Brazil bans import

File labelled “Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine”, March 24, 2021. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic

MANILA, Philippines — Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday said the National Task Force on COVID-19 will await the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) official report on the Russian-made Sputnik V following reports that Brazil stopped its import because the vaccine supposedly carried a live cold virus.

“Sa ngayon po, naghihintay lang po kami sa FDA,” Galvez said in an online Palace briefing when sought to comment on Brazil’s move.

(Right now, we’re just waiting for the FDA.)

“As of this moment, kailangan po namin yung official report. Kung sa news lang po namin natatanggap yung mga comment, ang FDA po natin at ang ating vaccine expert panel, they’re relying more on peer-reviewed journals po,” he added.

(As of this moment, we need their official report. We only receive the comments through the news, while the FDA and our vaccine expert panel, they’re relying more on peer-reviewed journals.)

Brazil’s drug regulator decided to stop the import of Russia’s Sputnik V on the basis that batches they tested carried a live version of a common cold-causing virus.

Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, has denied such reports.

The Philippines is expected to receive on May 1 an initial batch of 15,000 doses of Sputnik V.

EDV