Bahrain approves Sputnik V vaccine

Bahrain has approved a fourth vaccine for Covid-19.

The decision to authorise the emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine follows data provided by the manufacturer, results of an expanded study, and a process of review and evaluation of effectiveness of data conducted by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

Bahrain has already approved the emergency use of vaccines from Sinopharm, Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Citizens and residents are free to choose which vaccine they wish to receive, free of charge.

Sputnik V is produced by the Russian Health Ministry’s Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow and is the world’s leading research institution.

According to The Washington Post newspaper, the vaccine received a boost last week after the respected British medical journal The Lancet published a peer-reviewed paper that found the vaccine had 91.6 per cent efficacy 21 days after the first shot and 91.8pc for those over 60 years old, placing it on par with the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

“More than a dozen countries have approved the vaccine for use, with more likely to follow.

Sputnik V is considerably cheaper than its Western competitors and does not require the same sort of ultracold storage infrastructure that would complicate distribution of the Pfizer vaccine in much of the developing world,” said a report yesterday.

The NHRA said it had also reviewed and evaluated the safety of the vaccine, demonstrated by clinical trials and studies, as well as verified the quality of the vaccine by reviewing scientific data showing the quality of manufacturing and the stability of the product.

“Additionally, the stages of manufacturing and the manufacturer’s commitment to applying the principles of good pharmaceutical manufacturing (GMP) were verified according to international standards in the pharmaceutical industry and requirements issued by the authority,” said a statement yesterday.

The NHRA also took the opinion of the clinical research committee, made up of consultants from a group of academics and physicians responsible for approving clinical trials.

“After presenting the technical and scientific data, the authority took the decision to approve the emergency use authorisation of the vaccine and allow its use in the kingdom.”

The authority said that based on the approval issued yesterday, the Health Ministry will start import procedures according to current standards and requirements.

 

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/935498/Bahrain-approves-Sputnik-V-vaccine

 

Share this page Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin
Close

Read our latest publication

'Bahrain-France Investor Guide' -
is YOUR guide to invest in Bahrain and in France. Click here to view the online guide