India received the first batch of 1,50,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday from Moscow. Another 30 lakh doses are scheduled to arrive later this month. The vaccines were planned to be delivered to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to produce the vaccine in India, reported News18.

Sputnik V is a viral vector vaccine used against coronavirus. It was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow. On February 2, this year, The Lancet reported that the vaccine showed an efficacy rate of 91.6% without unusual side effects, following an interim analysis from a trial.

In light of the crisis of medical supplies India has been dealing with, the nation received help in this regard from the international community. The United Arab Emirates sent medical supplies that included 480 bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and 157 ventilators and many other machines, reported NDTV.

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The nation has also had to deal with the crisis of supply of vaccines and medical oxygen. It was planned to start vaccination for the adults under the age of 45 from the start of May across the country. But many states came out reporting that they were out of stock. The global community, as many as 17 countries came out to help India with the supply of oxygen, vaccines, ventilators, etc, including the major superpowers such as the UK, France, the US, Germany, Russia.