By: Nikita Kochhar
December 20 2021
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has set a timeline to prepare around 100 million doses of Sputnik V in India before 2021.
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has set a timeline to prepare around 100 million doses of Sputnik V in India before 2021. Drugmaker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (DRL), on September 16, announced its agreement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Russia's sovereign wealth fund has been closely involved in the discussions to carry out phase 3 human clinical trials of Russia's Coronavirus vaccine- Sputnik V in India. Post trials, it would distribute the vaccine in the country for public use. The Sputnik V vaccine has been approved for public use in Russia on August 11. If the timeline given by RDIF is to be believed, about 100 million (10 crores) Indians can expect to start getting a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020. If the phase 3 trials of Russia's Coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V succeed in India, it will be available for public use by the end of 2020. While India has been in discussions with Russia to explore the possibility of using Sputnik V for around a month now, the DRL deal is the first concrete development that shows the vaccine will come to India. The vaccine has been developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.