1M Sputnik Light doses to arrive within September —Galvez

The Philippines will receive within this month the first batch of single-shot Sputnik Light vaccine doses, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.

Galvez said one million doses, which were procured by the government, would be delivered to the country.

“The Sputnik V Light is more efficient because we will be able to protect more people faster. This would eliminate the problem wherein people fail to return for their second dose,” he said in a statement.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for Sputnik Light on August 20.

According to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Sputnik Light demonstrated 79.4% efficacy compared with 91.6% for the two-shot Sputnik V.

Meanwhile, Galvez said the Philippines expects to receive 190,000 doses of Sputnik V (Component 2) this weekend or early next week.

“This shipment of Sputnik V vaccines shall be used for the second dose,” he said.

“As per our vaccine experts from the Department of Health, the gap between first and second doses of Sputnik V can be as long as six months, so no need to worry because the vaccines are arriving soon,” Galvez added.

The Philippines has received more than 58 million vaccine doses since February 28. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News