Second batch of COVID19 vaccine Sputnik V lands in Hyderabad
Amid the shortage of vaccines in the country, the second batch of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V landed in Hyderabad from Moscow on 16 May.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 May 2021 4:27 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Amid the shortage of vaccines in the country, the second batch of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V landed in Hyderabad from Moscow on 16 May.
The vaccines will be delivered to Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which has joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to produce Sputnik V in India.
"Sputnik V is Russian-Indian vaccine. We expect that its production in India will be gradually increased up to 850 million doses per year. There are plans to introduce single-dose vaccine soon in India-Sputnik Lite," said Nikolay Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India.
The first dose of Russian Covid vaccine `Sputnik V' was administered to a beneficiary in Hyderabad on Friday.
Dr. Reddy's Lab on Friday announced that `Sputnik V' will cost Rs 995.40 in India.
On May 1, the first consignment of Sputnik V had arrived in Hyderabad. Before the doses are handed over for vaccination, the Indian partner of the Russian vaccine will seek mandatory approval from the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli.
On 13 April, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved the use of Sputnik V in the country making India the 60th country to approve the Russia-made vaccine.
Sputnik V, based on human adenoviral vectors, is one of three vaccines (other two are Pfizer and Moderna) that have an efficacy of over 90 per cent against the coronavirus disease, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2.
The two-dose vaccine, which has to be administered 21 days apart, has been developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and is supported by the Russian sovereign wealth fund, Russian Direct Investment Fund or RDIF.
Besides Sputnik V, the drugs controller has given its approval to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield which is being produced by Serum Institute of India (SII).
