On Tuesday, scientists gave Russia’s vaccine, the Sputnik V the green light, saying it was almost 92% effective in fighting COVID-19 based on peer-reviewed late-stage trial results published in The Lancet international medical journal.
Experts said the Phase III trial results meant the world had another effective weapon to fight the deadly pandemic and justified to some extent Moscow’s decision to roll out the vaccine before final data had been released.
The results were collated and confirmed by The Gamaleya Institute in Moscow that developed and tested the vaccine.
While this is undoubtedly good news, what does this mean for India?
India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive using two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin. Covishield has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and is being manufactured by Serum Institute of India. Doses are in the process of being administered in stages to the frontline workers, healthcare workers, and people susceptible to the virus, i.e. senior citizens and people with compromised immunity systems.
Apparently, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd could begin late-stage Indian clinical trials of Russia’s potential coronavirus vaccine in the next few weeks, an executive at the Indian drugmaker said on Tuesday, as reported by the Economic Times.
India’s trials of the Sputnik V vaccine is set to enroll 1000-2000 participants, and will be conducted at multiple government and private hospitals across the country, Deepak Sapra, CEO for API and pharmaceutical services at Dr. Reddy’s, told Reuters.
This would ultimately prove very beneficial, as having 3 vaccines ensures enough stock availability, and encourages the companies to provide excellent quality at competitive prices.
