NVOC: Filipinos hesitant to get Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine due to delivery issues

A vial labeled “Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine” on March 24, 2021. (REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are now hesitant to receive the initial dose of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine produced by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute after the delivery of its second doses was delayed last year, the chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Friday.

NVOC chair and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said there was initially a good uptake on the Sputnik V at the start of the vaccine rollout.

“We had a problem with Gamaleya use and preference. Initially, there was good uptake of Gamaleya, but when we had a problem middle of and late last year when the second doses did not arrive on time, [and] it took several months before they arrived, the citizens are now hesitant to get their Gamaleya shots thinking that they might not get their second shot,” Cabotaje said over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

“Of course the other problem is that some of the countries do not recognize the Russian brand as part of a vaccination certificate, so for those going abroad, this may be a problem of choice so they may not want to use the Russian brand,” she added.

According to Cabotaje, the COVID-19 vaccine from Gamaleya Institute was the third most procured by the Philippine government, next to Pfizer and Sinovac.

Asked if the public can still choose certain vaccine brands over others, Cabotaje said: “Yes, it’s still a choice but it will also depend on the availability of the brand of their choice in the vaccination centers.”

“We know that some brands are difficult to administer, there are some management [issues], including the Russian brand. It’s not only because they have less preference, but also because the cold chain management, it requires higher temperature,” she further noted.

Nevertheless, the government has already completed its orders from the Russian vaccine maker, according to the health official.

“They were just a little bit delayed for the second doses and now the first and second doses have come so we have completed. We are not expecting and we have not procured any additional Gamaleya vaccines,” said Cabotaje.

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