Fact Check: Will Sputnik Vaccine For 12-18 Age Group Be Available In India?

Hyderabad: India started vaccinating children in the age group of 15-18 years with Covaxin from January 3. As experts are calling for opening up the COVID-19 jab for 12-15 and even younger population, more vaccines are likely to be available for them in the coming months.

One of the possibilities is Sputnik M, a COVID vaccine for the 12-18 age category.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories informed on Friday that it is in discussions with Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to bring the Russian vaccine for children to India.

“Sputnik M is a vaccine for adolescents. In Russia, Sputnik M has been given the approval by the regulator for children in the 12 to 18 age group. The same data has been made available here. We are in the process of translating the data and we will be having a conversation with the regulator on this data within the next few months,” Deepak Sapra, CEO – API and Services of Dr Reddy’s, told reporters.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), who developed Sputnik, applied for registration of Sputnik M to the Indian regulator last month.

Sputnik V was approved for emergency use for adults in India last year.

As for the single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine, phase 3 clinical trial data has been submitted to DCGI for approval.