Russia Eyes On India To Manufacture Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine

“Moscow is keen to manufacture Covid vaccine Sputnik V in India.”

This is the statement made by Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, which is funding the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, according to India Today. As for India, the country has been showing interest in Sputnik V.

Dmitriev said in his first interview with a new channel from India that Russia is in touch with the country’s regulators and manufacturers to produce Sputnik V in India. He told India Today TV that Russia has great cooperation with India, as well as its scientists and manufacturers and that they understand Russian technology.

Dmitriev also said that India has enough manufacturing capability to handle the mass production of the vaccine, so Russia is interested in partnering with India in this producing Sputnik V.

“We saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi comment that India is open to manufacturing the vaccine in their country...India has already invested in the vaccine sector heavily with top companies and manufacturing capabilities already exist in India, hence Moscow is keen to manufacture Sputnik V in India.”

Dmitriev added that Russia is open to conducting Phase-III trials of the vaccine in India.

“We are working with twenty countries including India, Saudi Arabia and UAE. We want to make this vaccine affordable and accessible with production partners around the world.”

At the same time, Russia has already begun making the first batch of its COVID-19 vaccine despite the demand for scientific proof of its efficacy. The country granted the approval for the vaccine before conducting Phase-III trials, which would involve thousands of people. This trial phase is considered highly crucial for a vaccine to obtain regulatory approval.

Some scientists fear that the rush approval suggests Russia is putting national prestige above the safety of people as many countries are racing to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine.

But Dmitriev dismissed these concerns by saying Sputnik V is completely safe and reliable.

“I have been inoculated along with my entire family, including my 90-year old parents. Our target is to inoculate 40 million people in Russia.”

He stressed that the vaccine platform has been worked on for six years and doesn’t show any side effects.

Well, the truth will come out eventually, we truly hope that Sputnik V will work so we can finally put this pandemic to an end.

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