Gap Between Two Doses Of Sputnik V COVID Vaccine Can Be Extended Up To 180 Days, Says RDIF

The gap between two doses of Russian Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, can be extended to 180 days, said Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which markets the vaccine globally.

In a statement, an RDIF official said that the gap between the two doses of Sputnik V can be widened and the jab will remain effective. The official quoted trials by vaccine-developer Gamaleya Research Institute as showing longer gaps had secured a better immune response, reports Economic Times.

The development comes after several countries using the vaccine decided to extend the gap between first and second doses of the jab developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in collaboration with the RDIF.

Kazakhstan and Argentina have increased the interval between the two shots of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine. While Kazakhstan said a longer interval between shots provides a stronger immune response, Argentina had increased the gap to prioritise inoculation of more number of people.

Earlier in April, Gamaleya Research Institute's director Alexander Gintsburg had said that the gap between Sputnik V shots could be increased to 90 days.