Sputnik Light Recommended Only As Covid Booster Shot: Russian Health Ministry

He said this after President Vladimir Putin instructed the minister and his deputies to visit regions included Vladimir east of Moscow that have been worst hit by the latest wave of the pandemic.

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New Delhi: Sputnik Light should only be used as a booster shot against Covid-19 for people who have already been vaccinated, the Russian health minister was cited as saying by the country's news agencies on Saturday, Reuters reported. 

However, previously the vaccine Sputnik Light was promoted as a vaccine that comprises the first shot of its flagship two-shot Sputnik V & an effective standalone vaccine as well as a booster that can be combined with non-Russian vaccines. 

Earlier in October Russia said, Sputnik Light vaccine has demonstrated 70% effectiveness against the Delta variant three months after injection and is likely to become the country's main vaccine in the future.

"As the Delta variant is advancing, there will definitely be changes made today to the methodological recommendations on vaccinations where it will (say): only use 'Sputnik Light' for re-vaccination," Health Minister Mikhail Murashko was quoted as saying by TASS.

"We see that a higher quality immunity is formed after two-stage vaccination, and this is crucially important to preserve health," Interfax quoted Murashko as saying.

He said this after President Vladimir Putin instructed the minister and his deputies to visit regions included Vladimir east of Moscow that have been worst hit by the latest wave of the pandemic. During one of the G20 Summit meetings, he said via his virtual presence that Sputnik Light could be used as could be used to increase the effectiveness of other vaccines.

"We are working to this end with our colleagues from European countries and are offering it to our partners," he said according to Reuters.