India to receive 250 million doses of Sputnik vaccine

The Government of India is planning to roll out dosages of Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine in order to boost India's efforts at combating the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine price is ₹995.40 (including GST) and is being launched under the aegis of Dr.Reddy Laboratories.

The first batch of Sputnik V reached India on May 1, following which it receievd clearances from the Central Drugs Laboratory who tested the vaccine's quality and stability. The first dose of Sputnik V was administered in Hyderabad.

So far, Dr.Reddy's Laboratory has only received 150,000 doses of this vaccine from Russia. The company expects more doses soon. According to its agreement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has been in charge of signing agreements for supply of this vaccine across the world, India is expected to get at least 250 million doses, which will be sufficient to inoculate 125 million people. However, it is unclear by when these doses will be supplied and distributed in India.

Capacity to locally manufacture 850 million doses of the vaccine is also being set up across the country in accordance with deals struck by various biotechnology companies.

The Sputnik vaccine has claimed over 90% efficiency in reducing symptomatic Covid-19 Papers according to a paper published in the Lancet.