New Delhi: The first dose of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V was administered in Hyderabad on Friday. The vaccine will cost Rs 995.40 in India. However, doses that will be made in India may be cheaper, drug firm Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said.
At present, imported doses of the vaccine are priced at a maximum retail price of Rs 948, with 5 per cent GST per dose, India Today reported.
“Further consignments of imported doses are expected over the upcoming months. Subsequently, supply of the Sputnik V vaccine will commence from Indian manufacturing partners,” it added.
Over two billion doses will be made available in the country in five months between August and December, enough to vaccinate the entire population. V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, added that the Russian anti-Covid vaccine Sputnik V is likely to be available by next week.
Sputnik V fact file
- Dr Reddys has partnered with the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to bring the Sputnik V vaccine to India and other countries.
- The trials of the vaccine have been conducted in Russia, India, the UAE and the vaccine demonstrated an efficacy of 91.6 per cent. Clinical trial data published in The Lancet has indicated that the vaccine “appears safe and effective”.
- Sputnik V will be produced in India from July onwards as India looks to produce 15.6 crore doses of the Russian vaccine.
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