The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it was evaluating Gamaleya's Sputnik Light, a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, for possible emergency use in the Philippines.
The vaccine, which boasts a 79.4% efficacy based on analyzed data from Russia's mass vaccination program, is said to be effective against all strains of the coronavirus. The two-dose Sputnik V has Emergency Use Authorization or EUA from Filipino regulators.
"Ito po ‘yung single dose na Sputnik na nag-apply na rin po actually dito sa atin ng EUA at pinag-aaralan na rin po ng ating mga vaccine experts," FDA Director General Eric Domingo said told President Rodrigo Duterte during a Cabinet briefing aired Monday night.
Russia authorized the one-shot version of its flagship Sputnik V vaccine in May 2021. Sputnik Light will cost less than $10 (about P500) per dose, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said.