Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V gets DCGI nod; may be available by May

Russian Covid-19 vaccine granted restricted emergency-use authorisation in India

Sputnik V, the Russian Covid-19 vaccine with close to 92 per cent efficacy, is likely to be available in India by the first half of May.

Speaking to reporters, Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country’s sovereign wealth fund working with Indian manufacturers to bring Sputnik V here, said “we believe by the end of April or first part of May Sputnik V will be available in some quantities here”.

He said the ramp-up at Indian manufacturing sites would take a couple of months to reach peak capacity and by the end of July,