DAGUPENOS were not the only persons that were inoculated with first dose of Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and failed to get their second dose when their turn for the jab came.

Reports indicated that the same situation happened in some towns not only in Pangasinan and but in Region 1.

A report from DOH-CHD 1 showed that there were 24,300 persons administered with first doses of Sputnik V vaccine in various vaccination sites in the region but not one was given the second and final dose of  Sputnik V vaccine when they returned to their vaccination centers in various cities and towns three weeks after getting the first dose.

In a press statement, DOH-CHD 1 said the first delivery of Sputnik V vaccine was received on the first week of July, and no new supply of the brand of vaccine was delivered to the region.

DOH-CHED 1 said it has not received any notice about next delivery of  Sputnik V to the region.

The protocol for the second dose of Sputnik V vaccine is to administer it after a three-week interval from the first dose, similar to the protocol for the Chinese-made Sinovac. In the case of AstraZenica, the second dose should be given after an interval of 10 to 12 weeks from the first dose.

In this regard, Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person in Region1, assured those that received the first  dose of Sputnik V that the delay for the second dose would not diminish the efficacy of the vaccine.

He explained that the delay ensued when the company that manufactures Sputnik V vaccine applied for the revision of the vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), effectively extending the schedule of the second dose to 42 days because the component of the first dose of the vaccine is different from the component of the second dose but the difference is only slight.

As of August 2, some 700,000 persons in the region have already been vaccinated, or 15 percent of the target eligible population of 3.5 million. (Leonardo Micua)