NEW DELHI: The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine had landed in India on May 1, after the Government of India cleared it for emergency use on April 13. The Centre informed that the vaccine is likely to be available in the national market from next week.
On Friday, May 14, the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine was administered in Hyderabad as part of a soft launch by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories. Sputnik V has its efficacy at 91.6 per cent, which is higher in comparison to the two vaccines (Covaxin and Covishield) currently being administered in India.
Sputnik V is one of only three vaccines in the world with such a high efficacy rate, after the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine that has been granted authorization in most nations globally. It is priced at less than $10 per dose in international markets, and the vaccine has already been administered to more than 20 lakh people worldwide.
An official statement from Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said that further consignments of imported doses are expected over the upcoming months. Thereafter, the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine will commence from Indian manufacturing partners. According to the lab established that one dose of imported Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will cost Rs 995.40 approximately in India, and added that the doses manufactured of the same vaccine in India will be cheaper.