Russian corona vaccine may be Sputnik V India's third vaccine; Can be approved in March, price will be Rs 730

Currently, two vaccines - Covishield and covaxin - are being used in the ongoing vaccination campaign against Corona in India. A third vaccine may be added soon. This Russian vaccine is expected to be Sputnik V. Dr Reddy's Laboratory, a Hyderabad-based company in India, is conducting its trials and is expected to approach the drug regulator in March for emergency approval. This vaccine will be available in India for $ 10 (about Rs 730).

Of the 10 vaccines approved worldwide, Sputnik V as well as the vaccines of American companies Pfizer and Mordana have proved to be more than 90% effective. For this reason, the fight against Corona can be expected to be strengthened with the availability of the Russian vaccine in India. The Russian vaccine has been created by the Gamalaya Institute of Russia and funded by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). RDIF is also doing the deal on this vaccine from around the world.

RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said that the price of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which currently prove more than 90% efficacy, is three times the price of Sputnik V. With this, the Russian vaccine is being tried to reach more and more countries all over the world. The good thing is that it can be stored at a temperature of 2 to 8 ° C which is readily available in the current supply chain. The Russian vaccine is composed of two adenovirus vectors. The company is currently in talks with British firm AstraZeneca on combined trials with its vaccine - CoveShield. The company claims that the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine will increase further.

India will have the most effective and affordable vaccine

If the Russian vaccine is successful in all trials and is approved in India, it will be the most effective vaccine in trials. The efficacy of the Covishield vaccine being used in India has been 70%, while the phase-3 trials of Covaxin have not been completed yet. Because of this, the situation regarding its effectiveness is not clear.

The government is getting one dose of Covshield for 200 rupees and one dose of Covaxin for 295 rupees. At the same time, CoviShield's dose in the market will be Rs 1,000. Covaxin has not yet disclosed the market price. In such a situation, Sputnik V priced at Rs 730 can be the cheapest and effective vaccine in the market.

Which countries have received approval so far

Dimitrev said Sputnik V has so far received approval in Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Argentina, Bolivia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, UAE, Turkmenistan. Hungary has become the first country in the European Union to approve it. Approval can be obtained soon from the Drug Regulator of the European Union.