Sputnik V COVID Vaccine Likely To Be Available In Market By Next Week: Govt

New Delhi: Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine developed in Russia, is most likely to be available for use in India by next week, while its production will begin locally in July, the Centre informed on Thursday.

“Sputnik vaccine has arrived in India. I am happy to say that we are hopeful that it will be available in the market next week. We’re hopeful that the sale of the limited supply that has come from there (Russia) will begin next week,” said Dr VK Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog.

Russia claims that Sputnik V, which has been developed by Gamaleya National Centre, is the world’s first vaccine against the viral disease.

Approved in Russia on August 11 last year, Sputnik V has an efficacy of 91.6%, as published in the Lancet Medical Journal. It has been approved for use in more than 50 countries.

Amid an uncontrollable surge in COVID-19 infections in the second wave of the pandemic in India, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted emergency use authorization to Sputnik V in April 2020.

Approved in Russia on August 11 last year, Sputnik V has an efficacy of 91.6%, as published in the Lancet Medical Journal. It has been approved for use in more than 50 countries.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has signed an agreement to produce 750 million doses of Sputnik V in India. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories will manufacture the vaccine in India.

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