Extended Dosing Schedule Suggested for Sputnik V Vaccine

A professor with the Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences announced on April 26, 2021, the time between the first and second dosing of the Sputnik V Vaccine can be extended.

"We believe it is possible to increase the minimum interval between the first and second vaccine shots from the earlier approved 21 days up to three months," stated Alexander Gintsburg, M.D., in a press release. "Extending the interval will not affect the vaccine-induced immune response, and, in some cases, will enhance and prolong it."

The press statement added 'the conclusion comes from our experience in using vaccines using the identical adenovirus platform and, most importantly, from successful mass vaccination campaigns in Russia and numerous other countries. As the Sputnik V vaccine developers, we also support the earlier, independently made statements by respected health regulators, such as the ANMAT (Argentina), on extending the interval between shots.'

"We also believe that, given the exceptionally high demand for the vaccine among the population, this decision would significantly expedite immunization. We believe that it is up to each national regulator to decide whether to retain the 21-day interval between shots or to extend it to up to 3 months," concluded Dr. Gintsburg's comments.

The Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is a two-part vaccine that uses a weakened virus to deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response. It is a vector vaccine based on adenovirus DNA, in which the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus gene is integrated.

Dr. Alexander Leonidovich Gintsburg is a Russian microbiologist. Since 1997, he has been the director of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.