Russia's Sputnik V jabs set to make India debut at private hospitals

A large vaccine consignment is expected from Russia by third week of this month

The journey of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine in India is likely to begin from private hospitals across several cities this month as a large consignment is expected by the third week.

According to private hospitals, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) is in advanced stages of discussions with many of them and is drawing up a list of hospitals that would receive the first doses of Sputnik V for administering to citizens.

Discussions with the Centre, too, are on for the Sputnik V procurement, which is expected to get a fillip as Indian manufacturing sites start production around August-September. The Indian sites can together make over 850 million doses of the vaccine for both Indian consumption and overseas markets.

A source at a Mumbai-based private hospital said, “We are in talks with DRL to procure Sputnik V. A list is being drawn up of hospitals that would get the dose initially. In May, the Sputnik V inoculation is likely to start from private Covid vaccination centres alone.”

As many as 40-50 million doses of Sputnik V are expected to be imported. Of this, a large consignment is expected by the third week of May, an industry source said.

DRL did not answer queries sent to it, citing a silent period before the quarterly results.

Sputnik V, a vaccine with 91.6 per cent efficacy -- the highest among Covid vaccines available in India -- requires a temperature range of -18°C to -22°C to remain stable.

“DRL has offered a cold chain solution – a freezer that can maintain minus 12 to minus 18 degrees Celsius. It would come for Rs 15,000 each and going by our vaccination rate, it can hold about a week’s stock. Every week the company would replenish the stock,” the hospital source added. For hospitals that already have a sub-zero freezer, this investment would not be necessary.

Around 60-70 per cent of Sputnik V’s global production is set to take place in India, DRL has said.  

The company will use the government’s vaccination cold chain infrastructure, along with its own cold chain capabilities, for last-mile distribution. The firm also has a cold chain for handling critical care products like oncology. DRL has already tested the cold chain infrastructure in India through simulations.

Sputnik V will be imported in the frozen form from Russia this quarter. DRL is responsible for ensuring that the vaccine remains stable and sanctity of the cold chain is maintained — from the manufacturing site in Russia to its cold chain point and eventually to all parts of India, the company has said.

Deepak Sapra, CEO (API and pharmaceutical services), DRL, had said last month that the company had lined up a solution of compact boxes, using which the vaccine would be transported to various parts of India easily through a combination of air and road transport.

Meanwhile, the stability data for the Sputnik V variant that will remain stable at 2-8°C is being generated. “This will take a few more months. After that, we will approach the regulator again to modify the storage condition requirements to 2-8°C. That will make the process of storage and transportation a lot easier,” Sapra had said.

The NITI Aayog indicated last week that India would examine the claim that a single dose of Sputnik Light can provide protection from the coronavirus infection. VK Paul, member, NITI Aayog, had noted that if the claim of the vaccine developer was true, it could help double the speed of vaccination in India.

As of now, DRL’s contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is for 250 million doses for India. However, there is an option to increase the number of doses.