Sputnik V better choice as second jab for ones who have taken AstraZeneca first dose-By Rathindra Kuruwita

Source:Island

Sputnik V was a better choice of vaccine as a second jab than Sinopharm for those who had taken AstraZeneca injection as the first dose, experts in Immunology at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) told The Island yesterday.

Consultant Immunologist and head of the department of Immunology-MRI, Dr Nihan Rajiva de Silva said if those who had taken the first dose of AstraZeneca were to receive a second jab of Sputnik V, they should take the first Sputnik V vaccine with adenovirus 26 (Ad26).

“This is my personal opinion as an Immunologist. There are several on-going research on mixing and matching vaccines in the world.

“There is a study in Russia on the mixing of Sputnik V with AstraZeneca and the results should be out soon. There is also studies on mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer.  Given that our choices now are between Sputnik-V and Sinopharm, I think it’s better to go for Sputnik-V, if you had taken a first dose of AstraZeneca,” Dr. de Silva said.

Meanwhile former acting Chairman of NMRA, Prof. Sisira Siribaddana too suggested that Sputnik-V is a better option for those who had taken the first AstraZeneca shot.

“Sinopharm is a good vaccine too. It has fewer side effects than others. But in this case, Sputnik-V is better,” he said.