New Delhi: Russia’s Sputnik vaccine for COVID-19 has arrived in India and its sale could begin as early as next week, knowledgeable NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul on Thursday (May 13).
He mentioned that the restricted provide of Sputnik vaccine doses that has come from Russia is prone to be out there out there next week.
“Sputnik vaccine has arrived in India. I’m happy to say that we’re hopeful that it’ll be available in the market next week. We’re hopeful that the sale of the limited supply that has come from there (Russia), will begin next week,” Dr VK Paul mentioned.
He mentioned that the vaccine’s manufacturing in India will begin in July.
“Further supply will also follow. Its production will begin in July and it is estimated that 15.6 crore doses will be manufactured in that period,” he mentioned.
Regarding different vaccine candidates resembling Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Dr Paul mentioned that the authorities are consistently in contact with the producers and vital headway is prone to occur within the third quarter of the yr.
“Department of Biotechnology, other departments concerned and MEA have been in touch with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson from the beginning. They were officially asked if they would like to send doses to or manufacture in India, we’ll find partners and assist,” Dr Paul mentioned.
“They had said that they are working in their own way and they would talk of vaccine availability in Q3, in 2021. We are connected to them. I’m hopeful that they’ll step forward to increase availability in India,” he added.
“Overall, 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August-December – for India and for Indians. There should be no doubt that vaccine will be available for all as we move forward,” Dr Paul asserted.
“Any vaccine that is approved by FDA or WHO can come to India. Import license will be granted within 1-2 days. No import license is pending,” he mentioned additional.
He knowledgeable that to date 18 crore vaccine doses have been administered within the nation making India the third-best on this planet on this regard.
“We are happy to report that one-third of people aged 45 and above are protected. This age group contributes to 88% of deaths. So you can imagine, how much dent it would have made to reduce the risk of death of this population,” he mentioned.
