Over 2bn doses by Dec, Sputnik by next week: Centre

2.16 billion doses will be made in the country in five months for India and for the people of India. Vaccine will be available for all as we move forward

NEW DELHI: As states grapple with a shortage of coronavirus vaccines, the Centre on Thursday said that over 2 billion doses will be made available in the country in five months between August and December, enough to vaccinate the entire population.

“2.16 billion doses will be made in the country in five months for India and for the people of India. Vaccine will be available for all as we move forward,” Niti Aayog member VK Paul said at a press conference on Thursday, adding by the first quarter of the next year, the number is likely to be 3 billion.

He estimated that between August to December, production of 750 million doses of Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is estimated, while 550 million shots of Covaxin, produced by Bharat Biotech, will be made available.

Paul said that Sputnik V, the vaccine against the coronavirus disease developed by Russia’s Gamaleya National Center, will be available in markets across the country from early next week.

He said the local production of Sputnik V, often called the world’s first vaccine against the viral disease, will begin in July. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories will manufacture the vaccine in India.

“Sputnik vaccine has arrived in India. I’m happy to say that we’re hopeful that it’ll be available in the market next week. We’re hopeful that the sale of the limited supply that has come from there (Russia) will begin next week,” said Paul. member, Niti Aayog