One-dose Sputnik Light vaccine against coronavirus approved in Palestinian territories

Palestine approved emergency use of Russian vaccine on Monday Sputnik light, the Gamaleya Institute’s single-dose COVID-19 formula, designed for low-income countries and health infrastructure.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, sovereign wealth fund) announced the approval granted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. “Thanks to Sputnik Light, the Palestinian authorities will be able to immunize large groups in less time, obtaining collective immunity more quickly.“Said Kirill Dmitriev, managing director of the fund.” The use of the single dose Sputnik Light vaccine dramatically reduces the possibility of severe cases leading to hospitalization. “Added.

Sputnik Light contains the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype 26) of the formula Sputnik V, the most widely used in the world. Sputnik Light demonstrated a 79.4% efficiency after 28 daysAccording to data analyzed 28 days after administration of the injection, a percentage lower than the over 90% achieved by the two-dose formula, but optimal to cope with the pandemic according to the parameters of the World Health Organization . In addition, it is superior to the efficiency obtained by the Johnson & Johnson formula, also in single dose.

Sputnik Light, authorized in Russia in early May, it has also been approved in Venezuela and Nicaragua, two countries whose governments are similar to the Kremlin.

Palestine, a densely populated enclave, which raises fears of strong outbreaks of contagion, recorded a spike in cases in early April, although since then the rate of infections has moderated. In recent weeks, the trend is on the rise again.

In January 2021, the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was also approved for use in Palestine under the emergency use authorization process. To date, Sputnik V has been licensed in 66 countries with a total population of over 3.2 billion people.

The Sputnik V and the light version can be stored between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius and are sold for less than $ 10 a dose, and both protect against known strains of COVID-19, according to preliminary studies.

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