Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday soft-launched imported COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, with DeepakSapra, a senior executive of the drug-maker, taking the first shot here. The vaccine is priced at Rs 948, with five per cent GST per dose (retail price of Rs 995.40).
The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) landed in India on May 1, and received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory, M V Ramana, CEO of Branded Markets (India and emerging Markets), Dr Reddy's, told a press conference.
"The current prices are based on the imported price that we had from RDIF and we are in discussions with various State governments, though quantities have not been fixed...We are in discussions with RDIF and we have a commitment of, over the couple of months, 36 million doses that we are expecting to get from RDIF. I don'thave a very clear monthwise plan to share," Ramana told reporters.
Justifying the price, the official said it was done based on its landing price and other expenses involved in bringing it to people.
He said the price may come down once local manufacturing starts.
RDIF has tie-ups with six Indian drug firms to manufacture the vaccine.
The two vaccines- Covaxin by Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute's Covishield-- which are currently used in the vaccination programme across the country - are priced at Rs 1,200 and Rs 600 per dose respectively to private hospitals.
By mid-June, Dr Reddy's expects stocks for commercial sales from RDIF and the company is in discussions with a couple of State governments and the Centre for supply of the vaccine, he added.
"Local manufacturing is expected to give us the vaccine for commercial usage from July timeframe.. after that it will steadily ramp up over the next few months," he said.
On launching the product, Sapra said the company would initially be looking tentatively at 35 cities where cold chain facilities are available for launching the product and span out based on the infrastructure.
Sputnik V needs to be stored at -18 degrees centigrade, Sapra said.
Meanwhile, the Union health ministry said on Friday that a total of 191.99 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — will be supplied to states/UTs free of cost from May 16 to May 31.
The delivery schedule for the allocation will be shared in advance. States/UTs have been requested to direct the officials concerned to ensure rational and judicious utilisation of allocated doses and minimise vaccine wastage, it said.
The 191.99 lakh doses include 162.5 lakh Covishield doses and 29.49 lakh Covaxin doses.
In the previous fortnight, that is 1 May-May 15, 2021, a total quantum of more than 1.7 crore vaccine doses has been made available by the Centre to states/UTs, free of charge.
In addition, more than 4.39 crore doses were made available for direct procurement by the states as well as private hospitals in the month of May, the ministry said.
The ministry also said that a total of 10,796 oxygen concentrators, 12,269 oxygen cylinders, 19 oxygen generation plants and about 4.2 lakh Remdesivir vials received as global aid were delivered or dispatched through road and air to various states and union territories from April to May 13. The major consignments received on May 12/13 from Indonesia, Luxembourg, Oman, South Korea, the UK, USISPF, Finland and Greece include oxygen concentrators (1,506), oxygen cylinders (434) and ventilators/BiPAP/CPAP (58).
Cumulatively, 10,796 oxygen concentrators, 12,269 oxygen cylinders, 19 oxygen generation plants, 6,497 ventilators or Bi PAP; about 4.2 lakh Remdesivir vials have been delivered or dispatched through road and air from April 27 to May 13, the ministry said.