Russia says Sputnik vaccine should work against Omicron, can produce boosters

Russia on Monday said it would be ready to provide booster shots to protect against the Omicron coronavirus variant if needed, as reported in the National Post.

The country was quick to develop its two-dose Sputnik V vaccine last year and has also deployed a one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine, both of which have, it says, demonstrated high efficacy in trials, but are still awaiting WHO approval.

Some manufacturers have indicated that they have had difficulties producing the second dose of the vaccine, hampering efforts to boost output at home.

Still, Russia said on Monday its vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute, would likely work against Omicron and that it would be ready to produce hundreds of millions of booster shots if not.

"Gamaleya Institute believes Sputnik V and Light will neutralize Omicron as they have highest efficacy versus other mutations," stated Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which markets the vaccine overseas.

Dmitriev said that in the "unlikely case a modification is needed, we will provide several hundred million of Sputnik Omicron boosters by February 20, 2022."