By Sheain Fernandopulle   

A new research carried out by a team of world renowned scientists including two local scientists and researchers from the Ministry of Health has determined that the single dose of Sputnik-V is highly immunogenic.   

The team has also highlighted that the administration of a second dose of the Sputnik-V is likely to be beneficial.   
The scientists from the Sri Jayewardenepura University investigated the immune responses of the first dose of the Sputnik light, within the Sri Lankan population, 4 weeks after receiving the first dose and compared the immune responses with  the first dose of AztraZeneca.   

Accordingly, the first dose of Sputnik-V vaccine was shown to induce an overall seroconversion rate of 88.7%, with significantly lower seroconversion rates (81.8%) and SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody levels in individuals over 60 years of age. It induced ACE2-receptor blocking antibodies in 82.6% of individuals and the levels were significantly lower than levels seen following a single dose of AstraZeneca and those following natural infection.   

The findings also suggest that the two Sputnik-V doses using heterologous adenoviruses may be of particular importance in certain populations.   

Recently the first dose of Sputnik-V was marketed by the authorities as a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, which was claimed to have an efficacy of 78.6–83.7% among elderly individuals in Russia. 

A research team of Sri Jayewardenepura University has found that the single dose of Sputnik V is highly immunogenic, when combined with a second dose it is found to be more effective.
The university researchers have investigated the immune responses of the first dose (rAd26-S) of the Gam-COVID-Vac, which is also known as Sputnik light, in a sample of Sri Lankan population, four weeks after receiving it   
The Gam-COVID-19 first dose (rAd26-S) induced seroconversion rates in 88. 7 percent of individuals four weeks after vaccination.with significantly lower seroconversion rates in the elderly in a sample of Sri Lankan population.  
The research was carried out by a team of world renowned scientists. The research team included scientists from the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, including Prof. Neelika Malavige, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, researchers from University of Oxford including Prof. Graham Ogg, Prof. Alain Townsend and researchers from Ministry of Health Sri Lanka. The World Health Organisation, UK Medical Research Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and others .