India has approved the use of Russia’s “Sputnik V” vaccine against COVID-19 based on strong immunogenicity data, the Economic Times newspaper reported.

It would be the third COVID-19 vaccine approved in India after AsztraZeneca’s Covishield, and local firm Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN.

India's drugs regulator will give the final go-ahead for the "Sputnik V" rollout.

“Sputnik V” is being marketed in India by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, which has helped run a small trial for the drug in the country to test its safety and ability to generate an immune responseq Reuters reports.

“Sputnik V”, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, has proved 91.6% effective against COVID-19 and has been approved for use in more than 50 countries.