Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine priced at Rs 995 per Dose in India, First Dose Administered in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Drug firm Dr Reddy's Laboratories said on Friday that one dose of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will cost Rs 995 in India. It said that the prices could go down once the vaccine is produced locally in India. The first dose was administered in Hyderabad today as part of the soft launch.

The first jab was taken by Deepak Sapra, Global Head of Custom Pharma Services at Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

The imported doses of the vaccine are priced at a maximum retail price of Rs. 948 with 5 per cent of GST per dose. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is to be administered in two doses. It is 91.6% effective in preventing people from getting COVID-19.

"The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine landed in India on May 1, and received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli, on May 13, 2021. 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 Laboratories said in a statement.

In April, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had granted permission for restricted emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V jabs.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories has partnered with the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to bring the Sputnik V vaccine to India and other countries. According to the report, the trials of the vaccine have been conducted in Russia, India, the UAE and the vaccine demonstrated efficacy of 91.6 per cent. Clinical trial data published in The Lancet has indicated that the vaccine appears safe and effective.

It is to be mentioned that this vaccine can be stored in two forms. In the liquid form, it requires a temperature of -18 degrees C, and in the powdered form, it requires temperature storage of 2-8 degree Celsius, which means that it can be stored in conventional refrigerators and does not require additional cold-chain infrastructure.

Sources said that Sputnik V will be produced in India from July onwards as India looks to produce 15.6 crore doses of the Russian vaccine.

Sputnik V is currently being used in 60 countries, such as Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran, Republic of Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republika Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Montenegro, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Gabon, San-Marino, Ghana, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, Egypt, Honduras, Guatemala, Moldova, Slovakia, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Laos, Iraq, North Macedonia, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan, Namibia, Azerbaijan, Philippines, Cameroon, Seychelles, Mauritius, Vietnam, Antigua and Barbuda, Mali, and Panama.

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