India’s drug regulator on Tuesday approved Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, for emergency use amid a surge in coronavirus infections. The country will now start administering the jab along with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford/AstraZeneca’s Covishield. Let’s take a look at what is Sputnik V vaccine, how it works and how effective it actually is.

Also read: India to approve five more COVID-19 vaccines, including Sputnik V, by Oct: Report

What is Sputnik V?

Sputnik V, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, was approved by Russia in August last year. As of now, 60 countries have approved the vaccine for more than 1.5 billion people. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has proposed the cost of one shot at less than $10, according to Indian Express.

The Sputnik V vaccine is kept under a temperature of -18°C in its liquid form. In the freeze-dried form, it is stored at 2-8°C in a conventional refrigerator.

How does Sputnik V vaccine works?

The vaccine, also known as Gam-Covid-Vac, use two adenoviruses that are responsible for common cough and cold in human beings. The viruses are then combined with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spike protein to mount an immune response to it in the form of antibodies, as per the report by Indian Express.

Also read: Here’s how to download your COVID-19 vaccination certificate

Two different vectors are used while administering the two shots of this vaccine. This provides immunity to the person for a longer period than other vaccines. The shots are given 21 days apart.

How effective is Sputnik V?

The vaccine was criticised widely when it was launched after its phase II trials. After this, the company conducted phase III trials for the vaccine and its efficacy was found to be 91.6%. The results, which said the vaccine prevents asymptomatic coronavirus infections, were published in the scientific journal The Lancet.

Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories collaborated with RDIF to conduct Sputnik V trials. It also sought the Centre’s approval for the vaccine to be used in India. Now five Indian companies have partnered with the RDIF to manufacture 850 million doses of Sputnik V in a year, reported PTI.

Sputnik V, Covaxin and Covishield:

Covishield, developed by the University of Oxford and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, works similarly as Sputnik V. It is made from a weakened version of adenovirus from chimpanzees, according to BBC.

Covaxin, developed by Indian pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology, is different from the other two vaccines. It is an inactive vaccine and made up of killed coronavirus, according to BBC. The vaccine teaches the body to make antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.