Sputnik V vaccination still a go despite Brazil ban, says DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines still intends to use the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the country this Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH) said, even after Brazil stopped its import because the jab supposedly carried a live cold virus.

In a televised briefing, DOH spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) evaluation showed that Sputnik V is safe for public use.

“Kailangan po maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na ang Sputnik V po ay nabigyan na ng emergency use authority (EUA) ng ating Food and Drug Administration so ibig sabihin, napag-aralan na po yung dossier ng Sputnik V at nakita naman na katanggap tanggap at ligtas ito para sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.

(Our countrymen need to understand that Sputnik V was already given an emergency use authority by our Food and Drug Administration so this means Sputnik V’s dossier was already studied and it is acceptable and safe for the people.)

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.

Sputnik V’s manufacturer has the responsibility to submit new findings if there is any, but Vergeire said it has yet to provide additional documents that will merit reevaluation from the FDA.

“Sa ngayon po, wala pa naman po tayong natatanggap na ganito. At saka iyang pinalabas po sa Brazil, dito po is based on their evaluation and these are just initial conclusions,” Vergeire said.

(Right now, we have yet to receive anything like this. And that information from Brazil is based on their evaluation and these are just initial conclusions.)

“Sa ngayon, yan po yung mga initial na sinasabi ng mga regulatory authority sa ibang bansa, kailangan po pag-aralan lang. But tuloy pa rin po ang ating pagbabakuna, yun pong mga Sputnik V doses ay darating ngayong hapon,” she added.

(Right now, that’s the initial findings of the other country’s regulatory authority and it must be studied. But we will still continue with the vaccination, the Sputnik V doses are arriving this afternoon.)

Some 15,000 doses of Sputnik V are expected to arrive this Saturday afternoon in the Philippines. It was supposed to arrive on April 28, but was delayed due to logistical concerns.

EDV