Putin orders ‘large-scale’ vaccinations from next week

Agency: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin reportedly told health officials yesterday to start widespread vaccinations against coronavirus next week.

According to AFP, Putin said that Russia has produced close to two million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine.

The announcement came on the day Britain approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for a rollout starting next week.

Last week Russia reported interim test results showing Sputnik V was 95 percent effective, rivalling international competitors for efficacy.

Sputnik V — dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite — is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.

According to AFP, Putin said that teachers and medics will be the first to receive the jab.

The Sputnik V vaccine is administered in two doses with a 21-day gap.

The vaccine will be free to all Russian citizens and innoculation will be voluntary.

Russia has the fourth highest virus caseload in the world, with a total of 2.3 million registered cases and 41 thousand  and 53 fatalities.