COVID-19: Russia okays single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine, has 79.4% efficacy

Russia has registered Sputnik Light, the single-dose vaccine against COVID-19, which has an efficacy of 79.4 per cent, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said.

"The Russian Ministry of Health, the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund announce that Sputnik Light, a single dose COVID-19 vaccine, has received authorization for use in Russia. The single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4% efficacy according to analyzed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered. An efficacy level of near 80% is higher than that of many two-dose vaccines," the RDIF said in a statement.

According to the statement, the efficacy of Sputnik Light was calculated based on data obtained from Russians "vaccinated with a single injection, having not received the second one for any reason during the mass vaccination program between December 5, 2020, and April 15, 2021."
 

Sputnik Light is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26)) of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the sovereign wealth fund marketing the vaccine abroad.

"The Sputnik Light vaccine significantly reduces the possibility of severe cases leading to hospitalization, with only one injection needed. The single-dose regimen solves the challenge of immunizing large groups in a shorter time, which is especially important during the acute phase of the spread of coronavirus, achieving herd immunity faster," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF.

Dmitriev said that the Sputnik Light vaccine will be exported to the international partners "to help increase the rate of vaccinations in several countries in the face of the ongoing fight with the pandemic and new strains of coronavirus". 

The Sputnik Light vaccine has received authorization for use in Russia, according to the Russian Ministry of Health, the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the RDIF.On February 21, the Gamaleya Center and RDIF launched a global efficacy study of Sputnik Light. 

The Phase III clinical study involving 7,000 people was conducted in multiple countries including Russia, the UAE and Ghana. The RDIF said that the Sputnik Light vaccine is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vector platform that has proven to be safe and effective. 

As of May 5, more than 20 million people globally have received the first injection of the Sputnik V vaccine, containing the first component. 

"The cost of the Sputnik Light vaccine globally will be less than USD10, while it has simple storage requirements, at +2 +8, which provide for easy logistics. The one-shot regimen allows for the vaccination of large groups of the population in a short time, helping to speed up the fight against the pandemic during the acute phase," the statement read. 

Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said that Sputnik Light offers strong value in initial vaccination and re-vaccination, as well as boosting efficacy when taken in combination with other vaccines"Sputnik Light will help to prevent the spread of coronavirus through the faster immunization of larger population groups, as well as supporting high immunity levels in those who have already been infected previously," Gintsburg said.

(With inputs from agencies)