Russia Approaches India For Manufacturing Sputnik V Vaccine; Will Phase 3 Trial Happen in India? - Details 

As a huge development and step, the Russian government has reportedly sought India's partnership for manufacturing its COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V'. 

According to Republic World reports, Russia has also asked the government to conduct the phase 3 trial of its vaccine in India. As per sources, a Russian envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev has formally approached the office of Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan and other officials in this regard. 

An important meeting on the same has been discussed in the meeting of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 held on August 22, Republic World further reported.

Meanwhile in the meeting, the Department of Biotechnology along with the Department of Health Research were asked to lead and look into the proposal. However, data and final reports on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is still being awaited. 

While addressing the media, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asserted that India and Russia are in communication regarding the Sputnik V vaccine.  

Highlighting about the Sputnik V vaccine- on August 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the first vaccine in the world against COVID-19 - Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine has been named after the world's first satellite launched by the Soviet Union. 

During the announcement, Putin also mentioned that one of his daughters had already been inoculated. Till date, the vaccine has not been tested in phase 3 or larger clinical trials. A large-scale production of the vaccine is likely to start in September.