Namibia has banned the use of Russia’s corona vaccine Sputnik-V. Earlier, South Africa had also announced to stop using the Russian vaccine. Both countries have taken this decision in view of the possibility of HIV from Sputnik-V.
Russia’s corona vaccine Sputnik-V is getting mired in questions. After South Africa, now the neighboring country Namibia has also decided to stop it. The country’s Health Ministry issued a statement saying that the use of the Russian vaccine will be banned. In fact, it is believed that men taking the Sputnik-V vaccine have a manifold increased risk of contracting HIV. Due to this, first South Africa and now Namibia has announced to ban it.
DISCONTINUED| @MhssNamibia has on Friday announced the discontinuation of the administration of the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in Namibia after reports surfaced of it allegedly increasing chances of men to contract HIV upon exposure after inoculation. https://t.co/m9WJpsTFRA
— MICT Namibia (@MICTNamibia) October 23, 2021
At the same time, the Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed the Sputnik-V vaccine, has expressed displeasure over this decision. The institute has said that Namibia’s decision is not based on any scientific basis or research. Let us tell you that the South African regulator SAHPRA has decided that it will not allow the emergency use of Sputnik-V in its country. The drug regulator claims that some research suggests that Sputnik-V contains an adenovirus type 5 vector, the use of which increases the risk of HIV in men.
The Namibian Health Ministry has issued a statement saying that the decision to stop using the Russian vaccine has been taken after concerns emerged that men taking Sputnik V were more susceptible to HIV. Significantly, in India too, the Sputnik-V vaccine has been approved for emergency use. However, no such apprehension has come to the fore so far.
On the other hand, the company has said in a statement that all necessary information has been handed over to South Africa regarding the vaccination of people infected with HIV or the news of being infected with the vaccine, which shows that there is no risk from the vaccine. The Russian vaccine maker said that watery eyes or mild cold may occur after getting the vaccine, but it does not pose any risk of HIV.
