India In Conversation With Russia Regarding Manufacture Of COVID Vaccine Sputnik V: Health Ministry

Addressing a press conference, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "As far as #SputnikV #vaccine is concerned, #India and #Russia are in communication, some initial information has been shared and some detailed information is awaited." pic.twitter.com/BNtc27iZjV — IANS Tweets (@ians_india) August 25, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently launched the vaccine announcing that his country has developed the world's first vaccine against covid-19, a human adenoviral vector vaccine which is effective and forms a stable immunity against covid-19.

'As far as Sputnik-5 vaccine is concerned, India and Russia are in communication. Some initial information have been shared,' Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union health ministry said in a press conference

Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in association with Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

Sputnik V, an adenovirus vector-based vaccine, was developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology & Microbiology along with Russian Direct Investment Fund&was registered on Aug 11.Talks are underway between India & Russia for collaboration on the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/DFY2Liitjc — IANS Tweets (@ians_india) August 25, 2020

The vaccine is currently under Phase 3 clinical trials. According to researchers, the Sputnik V vaccine has two shots which use different versions of adenoviruses (types of virus). Some adenoviruses causing common cold have been engineered to carry the gene for the surface protein of SARS-CoV-2 causing covid-19.

Source: India Today

Nikolay Kudashev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, to the Republic of India, also tweeted “Discussed certain aspects of traditional bilateral cooperation in the field of public health with Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology @DBTIndia, GoI." However, he did not mention anything specific to the vaccine.

Discussed certain aspects of traditional bilateral cooperation in the field of public health with Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology @DBTIndia, GoI pic.twitter.com/J94j0C72h4 — Nikolay Kudashev (@NKudashev) August 25, 2020

Many health organizations, however, have said that Russia had skipped the third stage of clinical testing of the vaccine, which requires it to be tested on 20,000+ people before declaring it safe for use.

Vaccine trials normally involve many thousands of people. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been given to a mere 76, and no results have been published https://t.co/32FPdMcCpO — The Economist (@TheEconomist) August 28, 2020