As per the notification published on 24 August 2021, the guidelines on the procedure for vaccination against COVID-19 has been temporarily updated by The Russian Ministry of Health and are intended for medical care professionals. These guidelines encompass vaccination needs and aim to ascertain the safety, efficacy, and reliability of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in the adult population.

Earlier, Sputnik Light vaccine was used for people above sixty years. It is suggested for booster vaccinations. Furthermore, those people who already had illnesses can be given vaccination with this drug. The corresponding alterations have been done to the instructions for medical usage of the vaccine. The temporary guidelines on vaccination have also mentioned the requirement for medical organizations carrying out vaccinations for organizing individual work with citizens aged above 60 years of age, including those living in the social protection institutions, to prevent and decrease the risks of the spread of coronavirus infection.

As per the updated guidelines, the usage of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine is suggested to prevent SARS-CoV-2 in HIV-infected people who initiate antiretroviral treatment four weeks after starting antiretroviral therapy. The usage of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine without additional restrictions in all HIV-infected people is suggested, regardless of the level of immune status, antiretroviral treatment regimen and viral load.

In people having immunosuppressive or immunodeficient conditions, the drug is not contraindicated.  After entering information into the register about people vaccinated against COVID-19 or who had a disease within the last six months, the citizen is provided with a QR code on the Unified Portal of Public Services. This confirms the presence of appropriate information in the register.

For individuals who have got a negative polymerase chain reaction  test result, the QR code is valid for about 72 hours. For people who have been ill, the validity of the QR code is within six months from the recovery date.

Citizens vaccinated or re-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 get a QR code after introduction of second component of vaccine (if the drug is two-component) or following completion of vaccination with the single-component Sputnik Light vaccine. The validity period of QR codes is about one year. Furthermore, in the event of deterioration of epidemiological situation, the period may be confined to six months.

It is crucial to inform citizens that as per World Health Organization's recommendations, the consequence of vaccination against coronavirus cannot be coronavirus disease, as well as a positive result of lab antigen test or polymerase chain reaction test. The vaccine does not lead to the formation of active disease in people. Rather it leads to the creation of an immune response.

Though the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine safeguards people from serious disease and death, it is currently being investigated to what extent it aids in the prevention of transmission to others. For protection even after vaccination, it is pivotal to examine sanitary measures, including social distance, use masks, especially in crowded and poorly ventilated rooms.