With the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine receiving clearance in India, Deepak Sapra, Global Head of Custom Pharma Services at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories received the first jab of the vaccine in Hyderabad.
An imported dose of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine will cost Rs 995.40 in India, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which is manufacturing the vaccine in India, said on Friday. Sputnik V, which has an efficiency of 91.6 per cent, is the third vaccine to be approved for use in India.
The vaccine is likely to be available in the market from next week, the Centre had said on Thursday as the vaccine shortage in various states deepened and restrictions were brought in for vaccination.
The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine landed in India on 1 May, after it was cleared for emergency use in India on 13 April.
“Further consignments of imported doses are expected over the upcoming months. Subsequently, supply of the Sputnik V vaccine will commence from Indian manufacturing partners,” Dr Reddy’s said, adding that it expects to get 36 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine in the next couple of months under its contract with Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
“We are in discussions with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to import the vaccine towards the end of May,” a senior Dr. Reddy’s executive said on a post-earnings press conference. “Our total commitment contracted from RDIF is 250 million doses, of which the initial 15%-20% is expected through imports,” the executive, M.V. Ramana, added.
Subsequently, the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine will start from Indian manufacturing partners. The company is working closely with its six manufacturing partners to fulfill regulatory requirements to ensure a smooth and timely supply.
To date Sputnik V is registered in 65 countries with total population of over 3.2 billion people. Post-vaccination studies in a number of countries demonstrated that Sputnik V is the safest and most effective vaccine against Covid-19. Sputnik V ranks second among Covid vaccines globally in terms of the number of approvals issued by government regulators.
“Sputnik V is the first foreign-made vaccine used in India. RDIF stands ready to support our partners in India to launch a full-scale vaccination with Sputnik V as soon as possible. The safe and effective Russian vaccine, which to date is authorized in 65 countries, will make an important contribution in upscaling the vaccination in India and bringing down the number of cases,” said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.