Govt: Sputnik V recipients can take Covishield, Covaxin booster

NEW DELHI: People who have taken two doses of Sputnik V vaccine and are not able to get the third dose of the vaccine due to supply-related problems can opt for Covaxin or Covishield as a precautionary dose, the health ministry has clarified.

“One can take any of the available vaccines as a precautionary dose if Sputnik V isn’t available,” said a senior official. Russia’s Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology developed the Sputnik V vaccine and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is marketing it globally.

In India, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories holds the distribution rights of the vaccine. A senior official from Fortis healthcare said Sputnik V has been out of supply at their hospital for the past one month.

“We are administering other available vaccines as precautionary doses,” he said.