Vikrant Shekhawat : May 06, 2021, 11:52 AM
New Delhi: Living up to expectations as a trusted Indian strategic partner, Russia is sending a second consignment of Sputnik V vaccines 150,000 doses over the next two days. In addition, nearly three million doses are scheduled to land in Dr. Reddy's lab in Hyderabad by the end of May. Russia is preparing to send 50 lakh doses of Sputnik V to India by June and more than 10 million doses in July.According to diplomats based in New Delhi and Moscow, Russia is sending at least four oxygen-producing trucks, which can supply the 200-bed hospital as soon as electricity is supplied. These trucks produce 70 kg of oxygen per hour and 50,000 liters per day. He said, "We have already purchased four such trucks and are getting more so that there is no shortage of oxygen." These trucks will land in India by Russian IL-76 aircraft by the end of this week. "The first batch of 150,000 doses of Sputnik V came to India on 1 May. On the same day, India opened the third phase of vaccination for people between 18 and 44 years old. Sputnik V is based on human adenoviral vectors. It has more than 90 percent efficacy against corono virus disease. It was approved to use emergency in India on 12 April.Russia had sent 75 ventilators, 20 large capacity oxygen concentrators to Kalavati Hospital in Delhi and a 150-bed monitor to the hospital in Central Delhi. In addition to 60 large oxygen concentrators already through private donations, Russia has supplied 200,000 tablets used to treat the early stages of the corono virus in all central AIIMS in North India.Russia is keen to supply Remedisvir vials. An Indian diplomat said, "New Delhi and Moscow are in constant contact with each other through diplomatic channels, so that medical aid can be maximized."