Sputnik V arrives in market, each imported dose for Rs995

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14

Russian vaccine Sputnik V was launched in the Indian market on Friday with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, local partner of the two-dose Covid jab, announcing the soft launch by administering the first dose in Hyderabad today.

Each imported dose of Sputnik V will cost Rs 995.40. The cost will drop once domestic manufacturing of the vaccine begins. The vaccine will be made available at 35 centres from next week as part of the pilot test in India.

Edit: Tardy vax drive

At the launch today, Dr Reddy’s said, “The first consignment of Sputnik V vaccine that landed in India on May 1 received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli, on May 13.”

On May 1, 1.5 lakh doses of Sputniv V had arrived in India. Dr Reddy’s said further consignments were expected over the coming months and subsequently the supply of the vaccine will commence from Indian manufacturing partners as well.

“The imported doses of the vaccine are currently priced at Rs 948 plus 5 per cent GST per dose with the possibility of a lower price point when local supply begins. The company is working closely with its six manufacturing partners in India to fulfill regulatory requirements to ensure smooth and timely supply,” Dr Reddy’s said, promising to work with the government and the private sector to ensure the widest possible reach of Sputnik V as part of the national inoculation effort.

GV Prasad, co-chairman and managing director of Dr Reddy’s, said: “With the rising cases in India, vaccination is our most effective tool in the battle against Covid-19. Contributing to the vaccine drive in India is our biggest priority right now.”

Sputnik V is the only vaccine apart from Pfizer and Moderna to have an efficacy of over 91 per cent. The vaccine has posted nearly 92 per cent efficacy in late stage trials which means it offers a 92 per cent chance of disease reduction in those who accept it.

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev had earlier said that the efficacy of Sputnik V was among the highest in the world and the vaccine will also be effective against new strains of Covid-19.

“Its local production is about to start soon and is planned to be gradually increased up to 850 million doses per year,” Kudashev said.

3,43,144 fresh cases

TOTAL DEATHS 2,62,317

ACTIVE CASES 37,04,893

4,000 deaths in 24 hours

Talks over single shot

Dr Reddy’s is learnt to be in talks with Russia for collaboration on single shot Sputnik V which has shown 79.4 per cent efficacy.

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