A shipment of doses of the Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine against Covid-19 (Reuters File Photo)

The Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) announced on Thursday that Sputnik V, the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Center, will be available in markets across the country from early next week.

Making the announcement at the health ministry's press briefing on the Covid-19 situation in the country, Dr VK Paul, member, NITI Aayog, further said the local production of Sputnik V, often called the world's first vaccine against the viral disease, will begin in July. Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories will manufacture the vaccine in India.