The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) declined Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to conduct a large study of Russian COVID-19 vaccine named ‘Sputnik-V’ in the country.

Health experts raised concerns over the safety of the vaccine as it was rolled out within a short period of time even before large-scale trials were completed.

It is to be noted that the Russian vaccine and the Indian pharmaceutical company last month announced their partnership to run clinical trials and distribute the vaccine in India.