Sputnik V could be available in Philippines by April 2021

Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia, could be available for public consumption in the Philippines by April 2021, an official said after a recent meeting with the said vaccine’s manufacturer.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research, together with other members of Philippine health and vaccine experts, met with the representatives of Russian manufacturer Gamaleya and other Russian investors recently to talk about Sputnik V’s Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines.

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“Kailangan approved muna ng Russian FDA (Food and Drug Administration) bago ma-approve ng FDA ng ibang bansa. Ang projection po nila (Russians) ng kanilang FDA approval ay January 2021,” Montoya said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

(The Russian FDA must first approve it before the FDA can approve it of another country. Their projection of their FDA approval is January 2021.)

“Pag na-approve na po nila, pag-aaralan po ng FDA natin rito, kaya mga second quarter po, mga April 2021, ma-approve rito, magiging available na po rito,” he added.

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(Once they are approved, our FDA will study it here, so in the second quarter, around April 2021, it will be approved here, it will be available here.)

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine availability by December uncertain – DOH

Sputnik V could be available in Philippines by April 2021

Montoya explained the Russian government’s approval of Sputnik V is different from Russia’s FDA approval. The government’s approval is only certification for emergency use due to the global pandemic.

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“Ginagawa lang po iyong [certification for emergency use] pag may pandemya. Iyong use po noon, pang healthcare workers lang po at mga high risk [population],” Montoya said.

(Certification for emergency use is done when there is a pandemic. It could only be used to healthcare workers and high-risk population.)

“Di pa po puwede gamitin ng maramihan [it can not be used to a majority of the population],” he added.

Montoya added that the Russian government to conduct a Phase 3 of the clinical trials for Sputnik V in the Philippines for free, as long as they would be given workforce and venue to conduct the trials.