South Africa does not authorize Sputnik: “The risk of HIV infection increases”

“The use of the vaccine against Covid-19 Sputnik V in South Africa, a context of high prevalence and incidence of the HIV virus, may increase the risk that vaccinated males contract the disease”, reads a note from the South African Authority for the regulation of health products (Sahpra). According to regulators, some studies have suggested that administering coronavirus vaccines using the Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vector, such as Sputnik V, could result in an increased vulnerability of the immune system to the virus.