The first batch of Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Hyderabad on Saturday. It has been handed over to Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and will now be sent for regulatory approval.
The first batch of Russia's coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, has arrived in Hyderabad. A number of states also launched the third phase of the nationwide vaccination drive on Saturday, inoculating those aged between 18 and 45.
According to reports, the first batch comprises 1,50,000 doses of Sputnik V. Another 30 lakh doses of the Russian-made vaccine are due to arrive in India later this month. These doses will be delivered to Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the Indian partner of the Russian vaccine.
Dr. Reddy's will then seek mandatory approval from Central Drugs Laboratory in Kasauli before distributing the doses of Sputnik V.
Russia's Ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev said on Twitter, "As Russia and India continue dedicated joint efforts to combat the COVID19, this move is especially important to support the Indian Government’s endeavors to mitigate the deadly second wave and save lives."
"Its local production is about to start soon and is planned to be gradually increased up to 850 million doses per year," added Ambassador Kudashev.
In a tweet, the makers of the Russian vaccine said, "Let's jointly defeat this pandemic. Together we are stronger."
Indian regulators granted regulatory approval or restricted use authorization to Sputnik V on April 12 of this year. With an efficacy of 91.6 percent, Sputnik V was the first vaccine against Covid-19 in the world. Clinical trial data published in The Lancet indicated that the vaccine "appears safe and effective".
Like the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, Sputnik V is also based on human adenoviral vectors.
Sputnik V was developed at The Gamaleya Institute, which is also working to develop other versions of the same vaccine.
According to the makers of the Russian vaccine, it can be stored at a temperate range of 2-8 degrees Celsius, the same as Covishield and Covaxin.
However, it does have a regime in which both doses of the vaccine are different from one another. Both doses of Sputnik V have to be administered 21 days apart.
So what do you think about the Sputnik V vaccine would you have it, if it's available for you? Do let us know in the comments below!
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