When will Russia's 'first Covid vaccine' be available in India? Here's what we know

Russian President Vlimir Putin on Tuesday anunced that Moscow has developed world's first vaccine against COVID-19 that works "quite effectively" and forms a "stable immunity" against dely disease. He stated that one of his daughters has alrey been vaccinated.

'It works quite effectively'

"A vaccine against Coronavirus has been registered for first time in world this morning," Putin said during a meeting with members of his government. "I kw that it works quite effectively, it forms a stable immunity," official Tass news ncy quoted Putin as saying.

"I kw this very well because one of my daughters got vaccinated, so in this sense, she took part in testing," Putin said. He did t specify which of his two daughters h received vaccine.  vaccine has been named Sputnik-V. name is a reference to surprise 1957 launch of world's first satellite by Soviet Union.

treatment is yet to go through crucial Phase 3 trials where it would be ministered to thousands of people. President Putin ted that after first vaccine shot, his daughter h a 38C fever, and on next day, a fever slightly higher than 37C. "And n, after second shot, she h a slight fever again, and n everything was fine, she is feeling well and has a high [antibody] count," Putin said.

When will Russian vaccine hit market?

However, vaccine is still some distance away from becoming generally accessible, especially to people outside Russia According to an AP report, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova has promised to start “industrial production” of Gam-COVID-Vac Lyo vaccine in September. However, website of State Register of Pharmaceuticals showed vaccine would appear in circulation starting on January 1, 2021. “Date of introduction to civilian circulation – 01.01.2021,” site ted.

Russia’s health minister has said members of “risk groups” such as medical workers might be offered vaccine this month and a mass vaccination programme would be launched in October. He said doctors and teachers would be among first groups to be vaccinated. Russia has t yet declared price of vaccine.

'Premiliniary applications for over 1 billion doses'

According to reports, Kirill Dmitriyev, he of Russian Direct Investment Fund which finances vaccine project, said Phase 3 trials would start on Wednesday and industrial production was expected from September.

"We've seen considerable interest in Russian vaccine developed by Gamaleya Institute from abro," he said, ding that "preliminary applications for over one billion doses" of vaccine h been received from 20 countries. He said that along with foreign partners Russia was rey to manufacture 500 million doses of vaccine per year in five countries. It h been reported that Gamaleya centre has developed two forms of vaccine - a liquid and a freeze-dried one.

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“Our foreign partners express great interest in producing this vaccine in ir countries. re is great interest from Brazil, from India, from many or countries that are very much looking forward to Russian vaccine. More than five countries are w actively working with us to start producing vaccine,” Dmitriev told TASS. According to Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus has infected more than 20 million people and killed over 737,000 people worldwide.

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When will Russia's vaccine be available in India?

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria responded on development. Speaking to media, Guleria said that India needs to see critically 'if vaccine is safe'. re is a need to assess safety and effectiveness of vaccine, he said ding that if indeed Russia is successful in its attempt. He elaborated that focus needs to be on good immunity and it should be checked that re are side effects of vaccine. AIIMS director also ensued confidence that India has capacity for mass production of vaccine.

“If Russia’s vaccine is successful, n we will have to see critically wher it is safe and effective. re should t be any side effects of vaccine and it should provide good immunity and protection. India has capacity for mass production of vaccine,” Dr Guleria said.

India is likely to play a huge role in vaccinating world against Coronavirus as it is a massive global producer of pharmaceuticals. As per Union Health Ministry, three vaccines are being developed in India under license agreements with at least 2 foreign players. first is Oxford-Serum Institute (Phase 3 underway) vaccine, second is Zydus Cila's and third is Bharat Biotech's in concert with ICMR. At moment, it is t immediately kwn wher Russian vaccine will also be manufactured in India.

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(With ncy inputs)