India approves Sputnik Light COVID-19 shot for unvaccinated

India has approved Russia’s one-shot Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine for people who have not yet received a vaccine, the shot’s Indian manufacturer said in a Reuters report.

Russia said on Sunday that India had approved Sputnik Light for emergency use, almost 10 months after it cleared the two-dose Sputnik V.

“The current restricted use in emergency situation approval from the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) to Sputnik Light is for the single-shot standalone vaccine,” a spokesperson for Indian drugmaker Dr Reddy’s told Reuters in an email.

“Our efforts to seek approval for Sputnik Light as a precautionary dose / booster are currently underway,” the spokesperson said.

The DCGI did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

India currently uses AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in tandem with local firm Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and has inoculated more than 75% of its 950 million adult population.

India has approved booster shots for frontline workers, as well as older citizens with co-morbidities, but has mandated that the booster shot be the same as the original one.