Upon Approval, Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Produced By As Many As Five Indian Companies: Dr VK Paul

Chairman of the Government's empowered group on management of the national effort against COVID-19 pandemic, Dr V K Paul has said that the Government is expecting a positive development on the Sputnik V vaccine soon, and upon approval, it could possibly be manufactured on a big scale by as many as five companies in India, reports Economic Times.

Emphasising on the Sputnik V, Zydus Cadila's vaccine which is presently undergoing third phase trials, and the possibility of a nasal vaccine by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech in coming months, Dr Paul underscored that in a few more months from now, there will several vaccine candidates and more stockpiles for innoculating the masses.

Meanwhile, responding to a question on whether the export of COVID-19 vaccines would affect the availability in the domestic market, Dr Paul informed that India has enough vaccines for the ongoing domestic programme and that the nation is fulfilling the vaccine needs of other nations to an extent that it does not hamper domestic supply and programme in any way.

Also a member of NITI Aayog which is the Government's apex think tank body, Dr Paul emphasised that once the group of people aged 45 years or more are taken care of, the Government will come up with ways of reaching out to the larger segments of the population. Dr Paul emphasised that as many as 88 per cent of all deaths due to COVID-19 have been of those who were 45 years of age or more.