(Image source from: Reuters.com)

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine from May 1st in India:- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) yesterday announced that the first batch of the vaccination Sputnik V will reach India by May 1st. This happens to be the day on which India will start mass vaccination for all the people of the country aged between 18 and 45 years. RDIF chief executive officer Kirill Dmitriev said that the first dose of Sputnik V will be delivered on May 1st to the country. RDIF partnered with Dr Reddys in the country to make the vaccination available in India. Dr Reddys announced that they have no specific date for launch. The discussion about the price and the number of doses, duration between the doses are still pending for now.

RDIF said that the price of vaccine will be less than USD 10 which is Rs 750 per dose. The price varies between the countries. Dr Reddys Laboratories said that the initial quantity would be limited as they have to be imported from Russia for now. Dr Reddys would produce the jabs from July in India after which there would be enough number of vaccination supplies for Sputnik V. RDIF inked a deal with six manufacturers in India: Hetero Biopharma, Gland Pharma, Stelis Biopharma, Panacea Biotec, Virchow Biotech and Shilpa Medicare. They are in plans to produce 850 million doses soon.