Sputnik V arrives on May 1. What makes it different?

Sputnik means a satellite or a travel companion in the Russian language. It was the name of the first satellite that was launched from Earth. Last year in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the 'world's first Covid-19 vaccine' -- Sputnik V (the 'V' stands for the letter V and not the Roman numeral for five), the first batch of which is likely to arrive in India on May 1.

Back then, there was scepticism over Sputnik V as Russia had not shared trial data, though the vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which was earlier involved in the development of Ebola and Mers vaccines.

Perception started changing about Sputnik V in February this year when trial data were published in the journal The Lancet. The paper publishing the data said the vaccine "appears safe and effective".

'HIGHEST EFFICACY'

The efficacy of Sputnik V was found to be 91.6 per cent after three phases of trials. Two months later on April 21, days after India approved it as the third Covid-19 vaccine to be rolled out in the country, the Gamaleya Institute announced Sputnik V has the highest efficacy among all vaccines developed till date against Covid-19.

It said, "Russia's MOH [Ministry of Health] analysis of 3.8 million vaccinated shows Sputnik V efficacy is 97.6% in preventing infection making it the most effective Covid-19 vaccine in the world. Sputnik V is 100% effective in preventing severe cases."

VARIABLE DOSING

Sputnik V is a viral vector vaccine just like AstraZeneca's vaccine (marketed as Covishield in India). But unlike any other Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V has a regime in which both doses of the vaccine are different from one another.

The two doses use different vectors to target the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. In nature, the two doses of Sputnik V are slightly different versions of the same vaccine and are aimed at providing longer protection against Covid-19.

OTHER VERSIONS

The Gamaleya Institute is developing other versions of Sputnik V. Its regular liquid version can be stored at a similar temperature range (2-8 degree Celsius) as Covishield and Covaxin.

Another version that can be stored at common fridge temperature is under development. The institute has already announced a powdered version of Sputnik V. This makes Sputnik V the most diversified Covid-19 vaccine available today.

COST

Globally, Sputnik V is the most price competitive. Its only rival is AstraZeneca's jab, which costs $4 per dose compared to $10 (approx. Rs 750) for the Russian shot. Russia had earlier indicated that the vaccine could be available at less than $10 per dose in India.

The existing Covid-19 vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - in India were priced at Rs 250 in private hospitals and available free at government centres. However, the prices may now increase for Covishield and Covaxin doses as both the manufacturers have announced higher prices beginning May 1 when India's vaccine drive will be opened up for everybody above 18 years of age.

The prices announced for private hospitals make Covaxin costlier than the Russian jab if the latter maintains its $10 per dose rate. Covishield will still be cheaper than Sputnik V in India.

GLOBAL REACH

Sputnik could be the Covid-19 vaccine with the maximum global reach. More than 60 countries have signed contracts for the supply of Sputnik V.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which funded the vaccine's development, and which is signing commercial deals for Sputnik V with countries, has entered into contracts with five Indian firms for manufacturing 850 million or 85 crore doses of the vaccine.

With availability from May -- the month when India launches its new phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive allowing every adult eligible for getting the vaccine -- Sputnik V can be a game-changer in the second half of 2021 when India is likely to see a waning phase of coronavirus pandemic