UAE approves Sputnik Light vaccine as universal booster dose for Covid-19

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has announced that the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) approved the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine as a universal booster shot for all the vaccines used in the country for Covid-19.

The vaccine’s booster dose has been approved for all individuals aged 18 years above.

It can be administered six months after an individual receives the second dose of any other vaccine against Covid-19 in the country.

The single-component Sputnik Light vaccine was approved for use by the UAE in October.

It is based on human adenovirus serotype 26, Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine’s first component.

The two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was also authorised by the UAE’s MOHAP in January.

RDIF claimed that the single-dose vaccine is highly effective when used as a booster and on a standalone basis.

According to the data gathered by the Gamaleya Center from 28,000 subjects in Moscow, the Sputnik Light vaccine showed an efficacy of 70% when administered standalone during the initial three months after vaccination against the Delta variant of Covid-19.

It is also 75% effective among participants aged below 60 years.

RDIF noted that Sputnik Light’s efficacy as a booster shot for other vaccines against the Delta variant will be similar to the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine against the variant, more than 94% against hospitalisation and 83% for infection.

RDIF said in a statement: “Sputnik Light has been proven to be safe and highly effective by real-world vaccination data. In particular, the vaccine has demonstrated an efficacy of between 78.6% to 83.7% among the elderly as confirmed by the Ministry of Health of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“Paraguay’s Ministry of Health also found Sputnik Light to be 93.5% effective during the country’s ongoing vaccination campaign.”