Imported vaccine could be sold entirely in the private market

India will allow imported vaccines to be sold entirely in the private market without participating in the government’s vaccination programme, as per the government’s new liberalised vaccine policy.

“The fully ready-to-use imported vaccine would be allowed to be utilised entirely in the other-than-the-government of India channel,” said the policy document for phase-3 inoculation drive. All local vaccine manufacturers will supply 50% of their monthly doses to the central government. They will be free to sell the rest to states and in the open market, the government said on Tuesday.

The government has allowed vaccination for all people above the age on 18 under the third phase starting May 1.

Sputnik V could be the first imported Covid-19 vaccine to be available in the country, with Dr Reddy’s looking to launch the Russia-made vaccine this quarter.

The company had recently received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for restricted emergency use of the vaccine in the country. The company is looking at May-June for the first rollout of vaccines.

Other imported vaccines that are expected to be available in the country before long are those of Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.

Johnson & Johnson has already approached India’s drug regulator for permission to conduct a bridging study of its single dose Covid-19 vaccine in the country.

Serum Institute of India, which is jointly developing Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine Covovax, has initiated its phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials.

Last week, the government had said it would fast-track emergency approvals for vaccines made overseas that have been cleared by the WHO or regulators in the US, Europe, Britain or Japan.