Dr. Reddy’s laboratory, the official Indian partner of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), commenced the rollout of Sputnik V. The vaccine has been approved for use in 58 countries.
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved a restricted emergency of the vaccine. The first doses were injected as a limited pilot in Hyderabad. The price of the vaccine will be just under Rs 1000. Here is everything you need to know about the vaccine.
How effective is Sputnik V?
Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine has 91.6 percent efficacy in the third phase of clinical trials, as reported in Lancet. The inter-muscular vaccine works in 2 doses with a gap of 3 weeks.
Moreover, in its third clinical trial for people over 60 years, the vaccine was 91.8 percent efficient.
Working model of Sputnik V
This vaccine is an adenovirus-viral vector vaccine. As a result, it contains a modified version of the virus that cannot replicate. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 provides the immune response in the body. It is a unique vaccine because of its two vector model that makes it very efficient. The vaccine uses two types of adenovirus vectors-rAd26 in the first dose and rAd5 in the second dose.
How does the vaccine work against mutant variants?
The trial testing of Sputnik V shots showed significantly strong results against the UK variant of the virus.
“A recent study carried out by the Gamaleya Centre in Russia showed that revaccination with Sputnik V vaccine is working very well against new coronavirus mutations, including the UK strain of coronavirus” – Denis Logunov, a deputy director of the centre
The vaccine is also effective against the ‘South African’ strain. However, its effectiveness against the Indian variant is currently under research.
21,977 adults in Russia participated in the third phase efficacy trials. They got the two doses of Sputnik V over a gap of 3 weeks during September and November 2020.
As of now, three vaccines have obtained emergency use authorization in India. Sputnik V, Covishield, and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin are in use.