Sputnik V To Provide Booster Shot Against Delta Variant To Other Vaccine Manufacturers

The booster shot or second dose will be offered to other vaccine manufacturers as Sputnik V is more efficient against the Delta variant, the RDIF said.

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New Delhi: Russian sovereign fund RDIF on June 17 said its COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V will soon offer a booster shot, adjusted to work against the Delta variant of coronavirus, to other vaccine manufacturers.

In a tweet, the firm said: “#SputnikV will soon offer a booster shot, adjusted to work against the Delta variant of Coronavirus, first detected in India, to other vaccine manufacturers.” It then went on to explain Sputnik V’s role in developing vaccine cocktails.

“Sputnik V is more efficient against the Delta variant of coronavirus first detected in India, than any other vaccine that published results on this strain so far – the Gamaleya Centre study submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal,” the makers said further.

RDIF also announced that it will be launching a single dose Sputnik Light vaccine which will be based on the Ad26 vector in India.

B.1.617.2 or Delta variant first detected in India, has now emerged as a variant of concern globally - potentially reducing the effectiveness of vaccines

Nasal Vaccine for children

In another tweet, it quotes reports to say: “Russia has tested a nasal spray form of its Covid-19 vaccine that is suitable for children aged 8-12, and plans to launch the new product in September – #SputnikV developer and head of the Gamaleya Center Alexander Gintsburg.

Earlier this month, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted permission to Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture the Russian Covid-19 vaccine - Sputnik V in India. The drug controller has allowed SII to manufacture Sputnik-V jabs for examination, test, and analysis. 

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, is based in Hyderabad, is Sputnik V’s distributor in India. Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that the vaccine will be available in nine more cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai.