Russian COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik V Approved, Cleared For Emergency Use In India

Emergency use of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Monday. The clearance comes following a meeting by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the drugs regulator. Sputnik V will be the third vaccine against the virus in India, after Covaxin and Covishield.

As per trial reports, Lancet says Sputnik V is counted among COVID-19 vaccines with the highest efficacy at 91.6 percent, succeeded only by Pfizer and Moderna.

Meanwhile, preliminary data for the homegrown Bharat Biotech-vaccine Covaxin shows an 81 percent efficacy while Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield, by the Serum Institute of India, shows 81.3 percent efficacy (if administered with a 12-week gap between doses.)

Sputnik V In India To Be Produced By Dr. Reddy's

Sputnik V in India will be produced by Hyderabad-based pharma giant Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which had applied for the vaccine's emergency use in the country earlier this year in February. The vaccine is currently in third-phase trials in India. Over 1500 people between ages 18 and 99 are reportedly part of the clinical trials.

Earlier this week, the DCGI committee had sought data for Sputnik V from Dr. Reddy's, as regards comparative studies and the vaccine's reported effectiveness. Dr. Reddy's will manufacture the vaccine in partnership with the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

Approval for Sputnik V comes in the midst of a deadly surge in COVID-19 cases across India and vaccine shortage in many states. The rising tally of cases is being led predominantly by the states of Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. 16 states are showing a spike in daily reported cases, with ten of them accounting for 83.02 percent of the national average count.

Latest data suggests India has administered 10,45,28,565 vaccine doses since the vaccination drive started in early 2021.