Sputnik V vaccine has reached India, and will “hopefully” be available in the market from next week, stated Dr VK Paul, member (health) of the NITI Aayog, on Thursday. 

He added that the production of the vaccine will begin in the country by July. Sputnik V is the third vaccine against COVID-19 that has been authorized in India after Covishield, and Covaxin. Regarding the Center’s move to improve the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, he said that nearly 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India from August through December, which will be “for India and for Indians". Dr Paul also said that any vaccine approved by FDA and WHO can come to India and import license will be granted within 1-2 days’ time.

Meanwhile, Dr Reddys Laboratories initiated the soft launch of the Sputnik V vaccine and the first dose of the vaccine was administered in Hyderabad.… (ET Healthworld, ANI, PTI, May 14, 2021)