Health Ministry has confirmed that Indiais in conversation with Russia over the?COVID-19 vaccine?Sputnik V?whichwas earlier launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"As far as Sputnik V vaccineis concerned, India and Russia are in communication. Some initial informationhas been shared," said said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union HealthMinistry.
Russia had recently registered"world's first COVID-19 vaccine" and is now in the phase III trial ofthe vaccine, which involved more than 40,000 people at more than 45 medicalcentres around Russia, the TASS news agency reported earlier.
The RIA news agency citedRussian Industry Minister Denis Manturov as saying that Russia is planning toproduce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potentialcoronavirus vaccine by the year end, adding that the country will graduallyramp up its production to six million doses a month.
Earlier, reports stated that Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of theRussian Direct Investment Fund that is funding the Russian coronavirus vaccine programme, is now keen on producing their candidate Sputnik V in India.
Dmitrievtold?IndiaToday?that India has the manufacturing capability to mass produce theCOVID vaccine and hence Russia is interested in bringing India on board as aproduction partner.?
Dmitriev said several nations areinterested in the production of the vaccine from countries in Latin America,Asia and the Middle East.
"The production of the vaccineis a very important issue. Currently, we are looking for a partnership withIndia. We believe that they are capable of producing the Gamaleya vaccine andit is very important to say that those partnerships to produce the vaccine willenable us to cover the demand that we have," he said.
Also Read: Amid Fear Of Moving Too Fast, Russia Produces First Batch Of COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik V
Dubbed as Sputnik V, thevaccine is developed by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian defenceministry. Russia registered the vaccine after less than two months of humantesting. The results of initial trials have not been made public yet.
Disclaimer: While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isn’t any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Don’t self medicate/stock up and always consult your doctor/medical health professional.????