First Batch Of Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine Likely To Reach India By April End: Indian Envoy To Russia

In a boost for India's nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive, the first batch of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will arrive from Russia in April itself, according to the Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma, reports Livemint.

Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Varma said that the first shipment will likely take place by the end of April and that the production of vaccine in India would begin in May and then slowly increase. He also said that the volume of the Indian production of Sputnik V may exceed 50 million doses per month.

Sputnik V is the third vaccine to have been accorded the emergency use authorisation (EUA) in India. With this, India has joined the group of 60 nations that have authorised the use of the Russian vaccine. The vaccine is now approved in nations that constitute as much as 3 billion people, or 40 per cent of the global population.

Meanwhile, it should also be noted that following the EUA for Sputnik V, Russia's Deputy Envoy to India Roman Babushkin had exuded confidence that India's decision will open up a new dimension in the strategic partnership.