The Russian Ministry of Health has registered Sputnik V, the nasal version of their Covid-19 vaccine, as the world’s first nasal vaccination against the virus.
Sputnik V posted on Twitter, “Russian Health Ministry registers the nasal version of Sputnik V, the world’s first nasal vaccine against Covid-19.
The Russian news source TASS announced in January that in three to four months, the nasal vaccine against Covid-19 will be in civil circulation and available to Russians.
The Gamaleya Center’s Director, Alexander Gintsburg, has previously advised the agency that it would be effective against the new Omicron coronavirus strain.
“Laboratory testing demonstrates that the Sputnik V [coronavirus vaccine] protects against the Omicron (strain) in its conventional injection form, and it will undoubtedly be effective in the nasal form,” Gintsburg added.
The Gamaleya Center received approval from the Health Ministry for the second phase of clinical testing of the coronavirus vaccine in nasal spray form in October 2021.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has postponed the review process for granting emergency use authorization to the Sputnik V vaccination in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a recent report.
According to a WHO official, the evaluation was postponed since booking flights to Russia is problematic due to Western countries’ closure of their airspace to Russian planes following the country’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
