Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board has confirmed approval for the emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in Kenya after tests.
The Poisons board gave the emergency use authorization to AstraZeneca vaccine and the Sputnik V vaccine after a successful evaluation process.
"This is not a registration. The application for Emergency Use Authorization of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been approved after it met all requirements," the board said.
In a notice on Wednesday, the board said in reviewing the Sputnik V vaccine, it considered all aspects of quality, safety and efficacy.
"It is wholesomely safe. The Board continues to review the safety of all authorized products in the market," it said.
The poisons board is to authorise and safely monitor medicines and health technologies.
It’s the duty of the ministry of health as guided by the National Vaccine and immunization programme to determine what vaccine to buy based on factors, such as cost and cold chain considerations.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is currently evaluating the Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines in an effort to give Emergency Use Authorisation.
Sputnik V is expected to work by preparing the body to defend itself against infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
This virus uses proteins on its outer surface, called spike proteins, to enter the body’s cells and cause Covid-19.
Once it has been given, the vaccine delivers the SARS-CoV-2 gene into cells in the body. The cells will use the gene to produce the spike protein.
The person’s immune system will treat this spike protein as foreign and produce natural defences; antibodies and T cells against this protein.
Should the vaccinated person, later on, come into contact with SARS-CoV-2, the immune system will recognise the spike protein on the virus and be prepared to attack it.
Antibodies and T cells can work together to kill the virus, prevent its entry into the body’s cells and destroy infected cells, thus helping to protect against Covid-19.
Sputnik V is a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Russia’s Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
