Philippines approves emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

A HANDOUT photo provided by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) shows samples of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, in Moscow, Russia August 6, 2020. — REUTERS

MANILA – The Philippines has approved Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday.

The vaccine, developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, is the fourth to get emergency use authorization in the Southeast Asian nation as it battles a renewed surge in infections.

“The known and potential benefits of the Gamaleya Sputnik V vaccine…outweigh the known and potential risks of said vaccine,” FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo told a news conference. – Reuters