Imported Sputnik V to cost Rs995/shot in India, made-in-India may be cheaper
The first dose of the vaccine was administered in Hyderabad Friday as part of a limited pilot
An imported dose of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus will cost Rs995.40 in India, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, that is manufacturing the vaccine in India, said on Friday. Sputnik V, which has an efficiency of 91.6%, is the third vaccine to be approved for use in India.
The first dose of the vaccine was administered in Hyderabad Friday as part of a limited pilot, soft launch by Dr Reddy's, reports the NDTV.
The price of the imported doses will include a 5% GST per dose. Doses of Sputnik V which are made in India, however, are likely to be cheaper.
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The vaccine is likely to be available in market from next week, the Centre had said on Thursday as the vaccine shortage in various states deepened and restrictions were brought in for vaccination.
The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine landed in India on 1 May, and was cleared for emergency use in India on 13 April.
"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 said.
At 91.6%, Sputnik V has a higher efficacy as compared to the two Covid vaccines that are currently being administered in India: Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Sputnik V is one of only three vaccines in the world with such a high efficacy rate, after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The two-dose vaccine also has most authorisations granted globally. Priced at less than $10 per dose in international markers, the vaccine has already been administered to more than 20 lakh people worldwide.
The Sputnik vaccine is available in both liquid and powder form. The liquid form needs to be stored in minus 18 degrees. For the powder form - which can be kept in between 2 and 8 degrees, stability tests are on.
In September last year, Dr Reddy's partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V and for its distribution rights in India.
