Russia has removed breastfeeding from the list of contraindications to vaccination with the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, according to the instruction for the use of Sputnik V.

The press service of the Russian health ministry confirmed that "there are no clinical tests of Gam-covid-vac (Sputnik V - TASS) in breastfeeding women and infants. It is not known whether the vaccine’s active substances can get into maternal milk. Before vaccinating a breastfeeding woman it is necessary to assess the risks and benefits of the vaccination," the ministry’s press service told TASS.

Breastfeeding was listed among contraindications to the use of Sputnik V in the previous edition of the document.

Back in July, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended breastfeeding women to get vaccinated against Covid-19, saying that vaccination poses no risks to babies and provides protection.