PATNA: Russian vaccine Sputnik V made its debut in the city on Friday with many receiving jabs at Jai Prabha Medanta Superspecialty Hospital at Kankarbagh by paying Rs 1,125 for each dose.
The hospital has procured 600 Sputnik V vaccines and people can get inoculated by booking their slots on CoWin or Aarogya Setu apps.
“Sputnik V is only available at Medanta.
It is the first hospital to get the Russian vaccine in the state.
Two doses have to be taken by one person with a gap of 21 days and the price per shot is Rs 1,125.
Proper arrangements have been made for the people at the hospital so that they can get their jabs comfortably,” the hospital’s director, Dr Arun Kumar, told this newspaper.
He added, “The hospital was already inoculating people with other vaccines provided by the government.
Hence, facilities were there for vaccination at the hospital.
Trained nursing staff are inoculating people.” Experts have hailed debut of the Russian vaccine in the city.
“Sputnik is a very good vaccine with its efficacy ranging from 92-94%.
However, it has only been made available to private hospitals.
With the arrival of Sputnik, India now has three vaccines.
The Russian vaccine is expensive, but its efficacy is better than other vaccines available in the country.
It has shown no adverse side effects as of now,” said Dr Arun Shah, a Muzaffarpur-based senior paediatrician and former president of Bihar chapter of Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
People in the city are also upbeat with the arrival of Sputnik.
“I would prefer taking this vaccine.
In fact, there are five members in my family and we will try to take Sputnik now,” said Roshan Chaubey, a Patna- based businessman.