DOH: Sputnik V recipients may wait 6 months before 2nd dose

Individuals who have been inoculated with the Sputnik V vaccine may wait up to six months before getting their second dose, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

This is longer than the recommended interval period under the vaccine’s emergency use authorization of 21 days to 42 days after the first dose as well as the extended 90-day interval period the Gameleya Research Institute sought.

“Una, gusto nating i-reassure iyong mga nakatanggap na ng first dose ng Sputnik na puwede po nating hintayin, after six months after the first dose bago po natin makuha ang second dose,” DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman said in a press briefing.

GMA News Online has reached out to the FDA for comment.

Meanwhile, De Guzman also assured that the first dose of the vaccine also has a high efficacy rate.

“Ikalawa, iyong unang dose pa lamang po ng Sputnik can actually confer a high efficacy rate. I think they are reporting it at already an 80% na efficacy rate,” she said.

“At ikatlo po, ang atin namang vaccine czar ay talaga namang nagtatrabaho para nga po makarating na po iyong ating second dose ng Sputnik,” she added.

In August, the country has received 15,000 doses of the vaccine that is intended to be used as the second dose. -NB, GMA News