Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad has commenced administering Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 on Monday, as part of a limited pilot programme rolled out by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

"This pilot phase will allow Dr. Reddy's and Apollo to test the arrangements and cold chain logistics and prepare for the launch. We are confident that with the Sputnik V vaccine, we will be able to make a significant contribution to ease availability and access to COVID vaccines to the community at large," Apollo Hospitals President - Hospitals Division K Hari Prasad said in a statement.

With the opening up of the vaccination programme for the private sector, the healthcare major has intensified efforts to speed up the rate of vaccination through opening vaccination centres across its hospital network, he added.

"We are also in discussions with corporates to undertake vaccination on their premises. We are currently administering COVID vaccine at 60 locations across the country including Apollo Hospitals, Apollo Spectra Hospitals and Apollo Clinics," Prasad said.

Sputnik V has become the first foreign-made vaccine to be used in India contributing to the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Sputnik V was approved for use in India on April 12, 2021 and granted emergency use authorisation. India is the leading production hub for Sputnik V.

How is Mukhtar Ansari's life in jail? Security tighten for him after Chitrakoot gangwar

Andhra Pradesh extends lockdown till May 31, over 100 deaths for second consecutive day

Samridhi Kapoor is now the youngest founder in the Indian publishing industry