The Philippines is looking at using Sputnik V vaccines for the elderly citizens following reports that it has 91.6 percent efficacy rate especially since AstraZeneca is running out of supply at the moment.
He added the company also offered another 20 million doses should the Philippines need to order more
WITH questions of safety and efficacy hovering over AstraZeneca following reports of serious side effects and even deaths in some countries after vaccinations using the said medicine, the Philippine government is prompted to look for options on other vaccines that might be used for the country’s older population.
This, as vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government is expecting some 20 million doses of Russia-made Sputnik V, with the first 500,000 doses arriving within this month.
In a report to President Duterte, Galvez said Sputnik V, which has already been granted an emergency use authorization by local regulators, may be used on senior citizens even as he added that it could be utilized as substitute for AstraZeneca which is also already running out of supply.
Negotiations are still ongoing and the supply agreement would be signed this week and Galvez was optimistic that the total number of doses would arrive over 4 months.
"Pwede po siyang gamitin po sa elderly, so from 18 and above. So 'yun po ang gagamitin namin at 'yun po ang maganda dahil at least in the absence of AstraZeneca, 'yun po ang pwede namin pong gamitin," Galvez previously told ANC's Headstart in an interview.
Galvez said he believes Gamaleya Institute will be able to deliver the vaccines on time.
"Considering na ang nakikita natin na maganda ang production ng Russia and at the same time, they are supporting only the developing countries," he said.
He added the company also offered another 20 million doses should the Philippines need to order more.
Galvez likewise reported that the government paid for those shots from Sputnik V lower than its $10 original price tag.
The Philippines is looking to vaccinate some 70 percent of its population to achieve herd immunity.
It started its rollout in March and so far has about 3 million doses from Sinovac and AstraZeneca in its arsenal.
To recall, the Philippines last month issued emergency use authorization for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, the fourth vaccine to be approved in the country.
Late-stage trial results showed the vaccine was 91.6 percent effective in preventing the disease and it will be given in a 2-dose regimen administered 3 weeks apart.
"Based on the totality of evidence available to date, including data from adequate and well-known controlled trials, it is reasonable to believe that the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology Sputnik V Gam-Cov-Vac COVID-19 vaccine may be effective to prevent Covid-19," FDA Director General Eric Domingo said.
The adverse effects reported were mostly mild and transient, similar to common vaccine reactions. No specific safety concerns were identified.
Tags: #SputnikV, #AstraZeneca, #Covid-19, #SecGalvez, #ABS-CBN, #FDA, #Russia, #PresidentDuterte