The developer of the two-dose Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Thursday announced that they are introducing a single-shot version of the jab which is almost 80 per cent effective against the COVID-19 disease.

Named “Sputnik Light”, the “revolutionary 1-shot COVID-19 vaccine” has been approved by Russian health officials.

The announcement was made on the official Twitter account of Sputnik V vaccine, run by the state-owned Gamaleya Research Institute.

“Introducing a new member of the Sputnik family – a single dose Sputnik Light! It’s a revolutionary 1-shot COVID-19 vaccine with the 80% efficacy – higher than many 2-shot vaccines,” Sputnik V announced, stating that “Sputnik Light will double vaccination rates and help to handle epidemic peaks”.

It was categorically stated that the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine will continue to be the core vaccine developed by the institute

“While Sputnik V remains our core vaccine, Sputnik Light has its own features… Sputnik Light – a light step to freedom.”

The ‘Sputnik V’ Twitter account posted that Sputnik Light is a fast and reliable vaccine which “helps to achieve a high level of protection quicker, helping to swiftly defeat virus surges and create lasting protection in the community”.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has funded the development of the Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine, stated in a statement that Sputnik Light has “demonstrated 79.4 per cent efficacy” against COVID-19. In comparison, the main Sputnik V vaccine has demonstrated 91.6 per cent efficacy.

The results were drawn from “data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia’s mass vaccination program between 5 December 2020 and 15 April 2021”, the RDIF said.

While more than 60 countries have approved the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have yet to give it clearance.

Leading medical journal ‘The Lancet’ has described the Sputnik V vaccine as safe and stated that its two doses provide over 90 per cent efficacy.