New Delhi: According to sources, India has approved the export to Russia of approximately 40 lakh doses of the domestically manufactured coronavirus vaccine 'Sputnik Light.' Sputnik Light, a single-dose Covid-19 vaccination derivative of Russia's Sputnik, has yet to be authorized in India for emergency usage.

The Sputnik vaccines are distributed globally by Hetero and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, the Indian partner of Russian sovereign wealth fund RDIF. Indian experts had differing opinions on the efficacy of the single-dose vaccine on Indians.

The Drugs Controller General of India gave clearance for Phase 3 bridging trials of Sputnik Light on the Indian public in September.

Sputnik Light exhibited 78.6 to 83.7 percent efficiency against Covid-19, much greater than typical two-shot vaccinations, according to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet.

Sputnik Light was denied emergency use authorization by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization's Subject Expert Committee in July, citing the need for a Phase 3 trial of the Russian vaccine in the country.