DCGI grants emergency-use approval to single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency-use permission to the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine, informed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday.

Mandaviya said that this decision will further strengthen the country's fight against the pandemic.

"DCGI has granted emergency use permission to single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine in India. This is the 9th #COVID19 vaccine in the country. This will further strengthen the nation's collective fight against the pandemic," said Mandaviya in a tweet.

Earlier on Saturday, the subject expert committee under India's drug regulator had recommended Russia's Sputnik Light one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, sources had told ANI.

Sources had said that the DCGI was expected to soon give final approval to Russia's Sputnik Light.

Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories is the Indian partner of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has sought approval from the Indian drug regulator for use of single-dose Russia's Sputnik Light one shot.

The recommendation was given as the primary dose. Recently, the company submitted a proposal for conducting trials of Sputnik Light as a booster to other vaccines.

Sputnik Light is the first component of the two doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

( With inputs from ANI )