Russia planning to introduce single-dose COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik Lite' in India soon

New Delhi: Russia is planning to introduce the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik Lite' in India soon, its ambassador to the country, Nikolay Kudashev, said on Sunday (May 16, 2021). 

Kudashev was speaking to ANI after the delivery of the second batch of Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines in Hyderabad.

On the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, Kudashev said Russia expects that its production in India will be gradually increased by 850 million doses per year. 

That is indeed a brilliant example of the special and privileged strategic partnership and an effective model of international anti-pandemic cooperation that does not know any unnecessary obstacles.@DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @mfa_russia @IndEmbMoscow https://t.co/Cz2FlGUX6U — Nikolay Kudashev (@NKudashev) May 16, 2021

"Looking forward to further expanding our bilateral and multilateral cooperation with India to stop the pandemic," he said.

He added that the efficacy of Sputnik V is well-known in the world and back in Russia, it is being successfully used to vaccinate citizens starting in the second half of 2020. 

We interact closely in the field of medical science, including w/ regard to new #COVID19 strains, maintain active, non-politicized dialogue in the framework of WHO, G20, BRICS. Life-saving humanitarian assistance delivered last month by the Russian side is being successfully used https://t.co/GmmprZvLdO — Nikolay Kudashev  (@NKudashev) May 16, 2021

"Russian specialists declared that it is also effective against the new strains of COVID-19," Kudashev stated. 

Given the recent launch of the Russian vaccine in the Indian vaccination campaign, this second delivery has become very timely. The efficacy of the #SputnikV is well-known in the world. https://t.co/AcqoxHERBc — Nikolay Kudashev (@NKudashev) May 16, 2021

Sputnik V was approved for use in India on April 12, 2021, and granted an emergency use authorisation. Sputnik V has joined Covaxin and Covishield in the COVID-19 immunisation drive in India.