SAN Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida P. Robes on Sunday vouched for the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, saying it has a 91.8-percent efficacy rate for people aged 60 years old and above.
This was what Robes said she gleaned from Russian Embassy officials who spoke during her Committee on People’s Participation hearing.
Vladlen Epifanov, Minister-Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Russian Embassy, said during the hearing the vaccine’s efficacy was confirmed by medical journal Lancet (vol. 397, issue 10275, February 20, 2021).
“Epifanov told our committee that the Lancet has confirmed the efficacy rate of Sputnik V to 91.6 percent and for volunteers who are older, who are 60 years old and up, the efficacy goes up to 91.8 percent. This show that Sputnik V is the best for senior citizens,” Robes said.
The Food and Drug Administration previously granted “Emergency Use Authorization,” or EUA, to Sinovac but recommended that the vaccine must only be used on clinically-healthy individuals aged 18 to 59.
Robes added that the Lancet also confirmed that 98 percent of those vaccinated developed good immune response, 1.3-better to 1.5-better than those who have had Covid-19.
“That is why I am so happy that Sputnik has finally been given EUA by the FDA. Sputnik V will be a great addition to our vaccine efforts so we can cover not only 20 percent of our population but all Filipinos,” she said.
April arrival
DURING the meeting, Epifanov also told the committee that Russia may be able to provide the vaccine by April this year to cover at least one-third to one-half of the population in the country.
Epifanov also claims that Sputnik V does not have side effects or allergic reactions and provides immunity to the new, more aggressive strains of Covid-19.
He said that the Russian vaccine has been approved and is being used in 29 other countries all over the world and is now being manufactured in several countries like India, Brazil and South Korea through the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to ensure sufficient production of vaccines.
The Russian diplomat said the Philippines may avail of the RDIF to enable it to produce Sputnik V in the country to cover more of the Philippine population.
“I am hoping that proposals to set up a manufacturing hub in the Philippines will push through because this will not only boost our vaccine efforts but also contribute to our capability to produce our own vaccines not only for Covid-19 but for other diseases as well,” Robes said.