COVID-19: Govt Expects Speedy Launch of Sputnik Light in India

The single-dose vaccine could help speed up the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

Amid a shortage of vaccines in the second wave of COVID-19, the government is now expecting a speedy launch of Sputnik Light – Russia’s single-dose vaccine – in India, reported PTI. Stakeholders have been told to ensure fast-track of approval procedures.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on 6 May that they have authorised the single-dose vaccine. It has been developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, and the RDIF has said that it has an efficacy of 79.4 percent.

“The single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4 percent efficacy, according to analysed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia’s mass vaccination programme between 5 December 2020 and 15 April 2021.”

RDIF’s statement

Sputnik Light could become India’s first single-dose vaccine and prove effective in vaccinating large populations, in the face of the high number of infections seen in the second wave.

“The single-dose regimen solves the challenge of immunising large groups in a shorter time, which is especially important during the acute phase of the spread of coronavirus, achieving herd immunity faster.”

Kirill Dmitriev, RDIF Head

The Gamaleya Centre has also claimed that as per lab tests, the vaccine is effective against the new strains of COVID-19.

In the next couple of weeks, an application seeking regulatory approval for the vaccine is expected to be filed with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), reported The Indian Express.

It was suggested in a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary last week that a meeting must be convened with all stakeholders, including the Department of Biotechnology Secretary, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), the Ministry of External Affairs representatives, the Union Health Ministry officials, the RDIF, and domestic manufacturers, to accelerate the procedure for regulatory approvals, the report said.

(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express.)