Indian Health Ministry Confirms Discussing With Russia About Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine

The Indian Health Ministry recently confirmed that the country was discussing with Russia about the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.

The Sputnik V vaccine was registered by Russia to become the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world. It is now in Phase III of human trials with more than 40,000 volunteers at over 45 medical centers around Russia.

Denis Manturov, the country’s Industry Minister has been quoted saying that the country has plans to produce from 1.5 million to 2 million doses each month by the end of the year. He also adds that the production of the vaccine will gradually be ramped up to six million doses per month.

The Russian COVID-19 vaccine program is funded by the Russian Direct Investment Fund. And reports stated that the organization’s CEO, Kirill Dmitriev, is having an interest in producing the vaccine in India.

In an interview with India Today, Dmitriev said that the country possessed manufacturing capability for the vaccine’s mass-production. Russia is interested in having India as a production partner.

He added that many nations from the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America had been showing their interest in producing the vaccine.

The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute in cooperation with the Russian Defense Ministry. Originally, the vaccine was scheduled to be registered on august 12.

This is a vector vaccine that uses another weaker virus carrying the DNA codes needed to trigger a response from the immune system. The virus used in this vaccine is adenovirus, the strain causing the common cold.

President Putin also mentioned that the government was assigned to the task of securing funds for the prevention of influenza and COVID-19 after the vaccine had been registered. At least 60% of Russians must be vaccinated, he said.

As per Health Miniter Mikhail Murashko, people of “high-risk” groups like medical workers and senior citizens will be vaccinated in August.

In a previous report on the clinal trials of the vaccine, the results showed that all volunteers developed immunity against the coronavirus. The trial started on June 18 with 38 people. The first group was dismissed on July 15 and the second group was on July 20.

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