India is currently facing the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic with 1,52,879 new cases reported on Sunday. Several states have flagged a shortage of vaccination doses, private vaccine centers being shut in Mumbai owing to the scarcity. Amidst this crisis, a government source has revealed to ANI that Russia’s Sputnik V and four other vaccinations are in line to receive emergency use authorization (EUA) by New Delhi.

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Only weeks after Deepak Sapra, the CEO of pharma giant Dr Reddy’s Laboratories hinted at getting an approval for Russia’s coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V in India. The Indian vaccination drive has been mainly dependent on local manufacturers Covishield and Covaxin. The source said that the authorization to the other five manufacturers is expected to go through in the third quarter of 2021.

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Explaining the new strategy to manufacture additional vaccine doses, the source told ANI, “India currently has 2 COVID-19 vaccines being manufactured locally: Covishield and Covaxin, and we can expect five more vaccines by Q3 2021. These vaccines are Sputnik V vaccine (in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s), Johnson & Johnson vaccine (in collaboration with Biological E), Novavax vaccine (in collaboration with Serum India), Zydus Cadila’s vaccine, and Bharat Biotech’s Intranasal Vaccine. Safety and efficacy are the Union government’s primary concerns while granting emergency use authorisation (EUA) to any COVID-19 vaccine in the country.”

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According to local reports, four people recently died in Russia shortly after taking the Sputnik V anti-corona jab and EU regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Amsterdam is overseeing the cause of the deaths. The Sputnik V was one of the first vaccinations that was approved globally. 

Out of almost 20 COVID-19 vaccines in various clinical and pre-clinical stages, Sputnik V vaccine will get the nod first. It is expected that Sputnik is likely to get the EUA within the next ten days. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is working in a tie up with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hetero Biopharma, Gland Pharma, Stelis Biopharma and Vichrow Biotech for the production of vaccine doses. It is expected to come with a production capacity of 850 million doses.

 “Sputnik is expected to be available latest by June, if all goes well Johnson and Johnson ( Bio E) will be available by August, Cadilla Zydus will also be available by August, Novavex (Serum) by September and Nasal Vaccine (Bharat) by October,” the source added.

According to ANI’s sources, the Government of India is determined to ensure India remains the pharmacy of the world and Indians have equitable access to the highest quality vaccines in the world. The center is also ready to provide manufacturing assistance, financial support, and partnership in running and designing clinical trials.