`Sputnik V': Hyderabad International Airport receives 56.6 MT of Russian COVID vaccine
This is the third batch and the single largest import shipment of COVID-19 vaccines handled by any airport in India to date.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 Jun 2021 4:14 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Hyderabad International Airport on Tuesday received 56.6 MT of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia. This is the third batch and the single largest import shipment of COVID-19 vaccines handled by any airport in India to date. The vaccine consignment arrived from Russia on a specially chartered freighter RU-9450 which touched down at Hyderabad Airport at 03.43 am. This shipment completed all processes and was dispatched in less than 90 minutes.
The consignment amounts to 3 million doses and Apollo hospitals are likely to begin inoculation from 2nd week of June 2021, at an estimated price of Rs 1195 per dose. The Sputnik V vaccine requires specialised handling and storage, requiring to be kept at a temperature of -20° C.
On May 16, the second consignment Sputnik V carrying 60,000 vials arrived in India. Sputnik is among the three vaccines approved in the country. Two other vaccines are Covaxin of Bharat Biotech and Covishield of Serum Institute of India.
Sputnik has tied up with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories for manufacturing the vaccine in India. The first consignment of Sputnik had landed in India on May 1. However, the regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory-Kasauli was given only on May 13.
On May 14, Dr. Reddy's launched Sputnik V in the Indian market. The first dose was administered on the same day in Hyderabad. The pharma company said the imported doses of the vaccine were priced at a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 948. Combined with 5 percent, it costs Rs 995.4 per dose.
"The imported doses of the vaccine are presently priced at an MRP of Rs 948 + 5 percent GST per dose, with the possibility of a lower price point when local supply begins," Dr. Reddy's said in a statement.
In September last year, Dr. Reddy's and RDIF entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V, which is developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Dr Reddy's received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of Sputnik V.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reddy's laboratories are in talks with the government to bring the Russian Sputnik Light vaccine to India. "Dr. Reddy's Laboratories are the brand custodian of the Sputnik V vaccine in India and have the sole distribution rights of the first 250 million doses (first and second dose components included) of the vaccine in India," the domestic pharma major and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a joint statement.
The government is also hopeful of a speedy launch of single-dose COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik Light and all stakeholders, including Russian manufacturer and its Indian partners have been directed to fast-track the application and regulatory approval procedures for the jab to boost the country's vaccination drive.
The single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4% efficacy according to analyzed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia's mass vaccination programme between December 5, 2020 and April 15, 2021.
