Sputnik V Cleared, But Price Isn't - Big Sticking Point

Currently, the Sputnik V vaccine is being marked at approximately $10 dollars a dose in other markets.

Despite India's drug regulator DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) clearing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for use in the country, there is still no decision on the price at which the vaccine will be procured by the government. Price negotiations with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) are yet to be concluded. The rollout of the new vaccine in India is contingent on the successful conclusion of these negotiations and there are clear indicators that RDIF may not be able to match the price of $2 a dose that the government is presently paying for the AstraZeneca vaccine known as Covishield in India. Covishield is being produced by the Serum Institute of India. ''Sputnik in other markets it's more expensive than AstraZeneca's vaccine and I'm not sure that we can get exactly to that pricing given our production process,'' said Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the RDIF in an interview to NDTV. Currently, the Sputnik V vaccine is being marked at approximately $10 dollars a dose in other markets.