GOOD NEWS! Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine arrives in India, likely to hit market next week—check all details here

COVID-19 Vaccination Latest News Today: In some relief to the people of the country, Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine has arrived in India and is likely to be available in the market by next week. At present, India is fighting against the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccination drive has already started in the country but still a considerable portion of the population has to get the COVID-19 vaccine shots.

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On Thursday, Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health of Niti Aayog, informed that the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in the country, and it is expected that the vaccine will be available in the market by next week as per india.com. At a press briefing, Dr. Paul said, "I’m happy to say that we’re hopeful that it’ll be available in the market next week. We’re hopeful that the sale of the limited supply that has come from there (Russia), will begin next week." He also added that second batch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine will arrive in India on May 14.

So long Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield were available in the country, the availability of Sputnik V from Russia is certainly going to be an added boost for the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

India had started its vaccination drive with Covaxin and Covishield on January 16, 2021, as per an ANI report. The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination to inoculate people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with comorbidities was started from March 1, 2021. The third phase began from April 1, 2021, where all above 45 years were included. In the next phase, that started from May 1, 2021, all adults above 18 years of age were included.

Coming back to the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will manufacture the vaccine in the country. India is also looking to produce 15.6 crore doses of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Paul informed that production will begin in July, and it is estimated that 15.6 crore doses will be manufactured in that period.

So far, only three vaccines have been approved to be sold in the country, Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V.