Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories on Monday announced a collaboration to launch a COVID-19 vaccine programme with the Russia-made Sputnik V.

The first phase of the programme began on Monday with vaccinations in Hyderabad, following which a vaccination programme will be held at Apollo facilities in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday (May 18).

Also Read | First dose of Russian vaccine Sputnik V administered in Hyderabad

The vaccines will be administered in accordance with government-recommended SOPs, which also include registration on CoWIN.

Dr. K. Hariprasad, President of Apollo’s Hospitals Division, said in a statement, “This pilot phase will allow Dr. Reddy’s and Apollo to test the arrangements and cold chain logistics and prepare for the launch. We are confident that with the Sputnik V vaccine, we will be able to make a significant contribution to ease availability and access to COVID vaccines to the community at large.”

With the private sector vaccination programme now open, the healthcare behemoth has stepped up efforts to increase vaccination rates by opening vaccination centres throughout its hospital chain, he added.

Also Read | Do you work more than 50 hours a week? WHO says you might die

“We are also in discussions with corporates to undertake vaccination on their premises. We are currently administering COVID vaccine at 60 locations across the country including Apollo Hospitals, Apollo Spectra Hospitals, and Apollo Clinics,” Prasad said, as quoted by PTI.

MV Ramana, CEO of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’ Branded Markets (India & Emerging Markets), said that the two companies were partnering together to expand the pilot and bring the vaccine to other areas, with the goal of inoculating as many Indians as possible.

Dr. Reddy’s will supply the Sputnik V vaccines for the pilot programme, starting with the first round of 1.5 lakh doses imported so far.

The pilot programme will be expanded after Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam to include other metropolitans like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune.

Also Read | COVID-19 origin: Lab theory should not be ruled out, says team of 18 scientists

Russia was the first nation in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine, called Sputnik V, in August 2020.

Following that, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) formed a collaboration in September to undertake medical trials of Sputnik V, a drug created by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

The Indian drug regulator has given Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories permission to use Sputnik V in limited emergency situations.