Dr Reddy's Rolls Out Imported Sputnik V Vaccine At Rs 995, Made In India Doses To Cost Less

At a time when India is grappling with a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines to administer to the wider public, Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories has began the rollout of the Russian-made Sputnik V in the country.

According to Dr Reddy's, they received regulatory clearance for Sputnik V from the Central Drugs Laboratory at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh on May 13.

AP

¡°As part of a limited pilot, the soft launch of the vaccine has commenced and the first dose of the vaccine was administered in Hyderabad today on May 14, 2021,¡± the company said in a regulatory filing.

Priced at Rs 995

The imported doses of the vaccine are presently priced at an MRP of Rs 948 + 5% GST making the cost Rs 995 per dose, with the possibility of a lower price point when local supply begins.

The company is working closely with its six manufacturing partners in India to fulfill regulatory requirements to ensure smooth and timely supply.

Reuters

The first consignment of imported doses of Sputnik V vaccine had reached India on May 1 and further consignments of imported doses are expected over the upcoming months.

The company also said that the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine from Indian manufacturing partners, will follow, and that could bring down the prices.

Earlier, Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma said India expects between 150,000 to 200,000 ready-made vaccines to be available very quickly in the early part of May.

India is expecting 5 million vials of Sputnik vaccines by next month.

AP

The development comes as several states across the country are suspending the mass vaccine rollout due to the shortage in supply.

Other vaccine makers struggling to meet demand

The two other vaccine makers Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are struggling to meet the demand from the states after the Centre allowed them to procure the doses directly to vaccinate those in the age group of 18-45.

As the shortage in supply shows no signs of improving many states have announced that they will import the vaccines from the global market.

BCCL

Last month, the Narendra Modi government had fast-tracked emergency use approval for eligible foreign-produced shots.

This means that the pre-condition for foreign manufacturers to undertake phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in India for those vaccines that have already been granted approvals by relevant regulatory bodies in the US, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan as well as by the World Health Organisation will be waived off.