• Currently there are phase 3 trials being carried out in Russia to find out the efficacy of the first dose

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe 

Following concerns on administering just a single dose of Sputnik V vaccine, the Gamaleya Institute has reiterated that the first dose would give maximum clinical protection based on new clinical data. However, local medical experts opine that they haven’t produced any scientific data to date. 

“This is a vague statement. For Sinopharm or any vaccine produced by a country, the regulatory process includes approval of properly submitted scientific data by an independent panel and approval by the official regulator,” opined Dr. Lakkumar Fernando, Association of Medical Specialists President.   

“Though two dose Sputnik V is approved in almost 40 countries, the WHO and stringent regulator approval is still pending. However we do not know of any country or regulator that has approved Sputnik Light as a single dose vaccine yet, though it is scientifically possible like in the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”  

On a similar note, Prof. Neelika Malavige, Professor in Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at Sri Jayawardenepura University said that currently there are phase 3 trials being carried out in Russia to find out the efficacy of the first dose of Sputnik V, which is an adenovirus 26 vector vaccine, in preventing COVID-19.