New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday informed that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency use permission to single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine.
"This is 9th COVID-19 vaccine in the country. This will further strengthen the nation's collective fight against pandemic," he wrote on Koo.
Earlier, Drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories had submitted a proposal to the DCGI to register Sputnik Light vaccine as a booster dose against COVID-19, news agency PTI reported citing a top company official.
The Hyderabad-based drug major had partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct the clinical trials of Sputnik V and distribute the vaccine in India in September 2020.
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Last year, the company received permission from the DCGI to import the Sputnik vaccine into India for restricted use in emergency situations in April.
"As regards to Sputnik, we are now ready with capacities in India. We are working actively with the Government of India for registering Sputnik Light as a vaccine and as a booster dose of Sputnik V," Dr Reddy's Laboratories CEO Erez Israeli told PTI.
"Sputnik continues to be a viable option for Dr Reddy's for India and other countries," he stated.
"We will have a trial with other vaccines so it will serve as another option both private as well as the government for the booster in the future. We believe that the boosters will be part of our life and we'll have to take it once or twice a year now," Israeli added.
On exports, it was informed that there were no restrictions on the overseas shipment of the Russian COVID vaccine.
(With Agency Inputs)