Expert panel recommends granting approval to COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use in India

An expert panel of India’s Central drug authority has recommended granting approval to Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use in the country with certain conditions, sources said.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on April 12 took up the application of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories seeking emergency use authorisation for Sputnik V.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will take a final call on the recommendation.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has already given the emergency use authorisation for two COVID-19 vaccines — Covaxin of Bharat Biotech and Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune.