Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V has been cleared for emergency use by India's drug regulator - the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). As India sees an unprecedented surge in cases, Sputnik V becomes the third coronavirus vaccine to be cleared by the drug regulator. Two vaccines - the Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin - were cleared in January. Manufactured in India by Dr Reddy's, it has the highest effectiveness - 91.6 per cent, after the Moderna and Pfizer shots. Meanwhile, Coronavirus vaccines cleared for use in the US, the UK, the European Union, and Japan will get fast-track approval in India, the Union government said on April 13. This potentially boosts the country’s pandemic response through possible imports of Pfizer, Moderna & Johnson & Johnson (J&J) products. Coming at a time when India records the world’s biggest surge in infections, the decision removes a significant barrier for vaccine makers.
