Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V has already been rolled out in India, with the soft launch taking place last week.
It’s the third vaccine to be used in India’s massive inoculation drive and the country has received over 2 lakh doses from Russia as part of an agreement between the two countries.
According to Indian Envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Verma, 5 million doses will be supplied in bulk by June.
There is further good news at a time when the supply of vaccines is much less than the demand in this country. Production of the Sputnik V vaccine in India is expected to begin by August.
As per the plan, around 850 million doses of Sputnik V will be produced in India in three phases, informed Verma.
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About 65-70% of the total Sputnik V vaccines will be produced in India, he added.
“Sputnik will be available in India in three phases. First, supply from Russia — fully made — which has already started. Second, RDIF will send to India in bulk. It will be ready for use but it will have to be filled in various bottles in India,”informed Verma.
“Third, the Russian side will transfer the technology to Indian company which will produce it fully in India. All these three phases put together will be about 850 million doses,” Verma stated in St Petersburg.
Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and five other companies will manufacture the vaccine in India.
