Russia registers the world’s first nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine

“The Russian Ministry of Health has registered the vaccine COVID-19 Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) was developed by the Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Ministry of Health.the notice of the Russian Ministry of Health said.

According to the Russian Ministry of Health, this spray COVID-19 vaccine consists of two components based on andenovirus types 16 and 5 vectors, which are sprayed into the nasal cavity. The interval between two sprays is 3 weeks.

The vaccine forms mucosal immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the surface of the respiratory tract mucosa, as well as humoral and cellular immunity in the blood, the Russian Ministry of Health said.

Previously, according to the Russian scientist, the nasal spray vaccine creates local immunity in the nasopharynx and creates an additional barrier for the virus to find its way into the body.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Health of Russia, at this time, the use of vaccines is allowed under the conditions of medical institutions that carry out immunization of people 18 years of age and older.

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko earlier said that the use of the nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine would be included in the recommendations for booster shots.

In October 2021, the Russian Ministry of Health gave permission to conduct clinical trials of this new vaccine.

In November last year, President Vladimir Putin offered to join a group of volunteers testing a spray vaccine against COVID-19. Mr. Putin said he did not experience any side effects after the test.

Russia is the first country to register an injectable COVID-19 vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine, registered in Russia in August 2020, is the first vaccine in the world to be officially approved.