5 million doses of Russian Covid vaccine Sputnik V in India by June, says Indian envoy to Russia Venkatesh Varma

India is set to get 5 million doses of Russian Covid vaccine Sputnik V by June, even as the jab is set to be rolled out in the country from the 1st of May.

Sputnik V is the third vaccine India has approved after the University of Oxford- straZeneca vaccine Covisheild and Covaxin, the Indian vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech.

Announcing the development, the Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma said, "We expect between 150,000 to 200,000 ready-made vaccines to be available very quickly in the early part of May. But this will be increased by middle and the latter part of May and perhaps by May itself total Sputnik V Numbers will be probably more than 3 million."

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"So, it's a very substantial number. This will steadily increase to 5 million on June, 10 million, correspondingly we wish to take it forward."

Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed the vaccine, has in a recent study said that the jab is effective against mutant forms of the virus.

The arrival of the Sputnik V vaccine coincides with India opening up vaccination for the entire adult population from the 1st of May.

Envoy Venkatesh said Sputnik V "will be providing a contribution to India's vaccination efforts" and "as the scale of vaccination increase in India, its manufacturing will happen".

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country'ssovereign wealth fund which funded the vaccine, has signed a pact with five Indian companies to produce 850 million doses of the vaccine.The production begins in May.

The India-produced Russian vaccine will not only be used in India and Russia but will also be exported to third countries.

The envoy highlighted, "We expect, in the months ahead, more than 60-70 % of Sputnik vaccine produced anywhere will be produced in India".

RDIF is in talks with Indian regulators to do a combination of vaccines likeAstraZeneca followed by Sputnik V.

The Indian envoy said that while it has not been approved as yet, if that "combination is possible, then that is an additional benefit".

Russia is also expected to announce Sputnik Lite.

Russia extended support to India earlier this week by sending 22 tonnes of grant assistance to deal with the ongoing Covid crisis.

The assistance included 20 oxygen production units, 75 lung ventilators, 150 medical monitors, and 200,000 packs of medicines.

Russian Emergencies Ministry had sent two Il-76 aircraft with supplies, which envoy Venkatesh said "is extremely valued".

This assistance "will live in our memory as one more standing testimony of very close friendship" between India and Russia, he said.

Asked about any travel ban between the two countries amid the Covid crisis in India, the envoy said at present, there is no plan for restricting air travelbetween India and Russia.

Two flights are being run by Aeroflot and two by Air India between both the countries even as Moscow authorities have taken additional precautions including conducting additional test from travellers coming from India.

Several countries have imposed restrictions on travellers from India due to the Covid crisis.