Russia: President Putin tells officials to start mass vaccinations against Covid-19 next week

The Kremlin earlier gave assurances that Russians were first in line to be vaccinated, with Moscow also discussing supply deals with other countries.” The absolute priority are Russians,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian authorities on Wednesday to begin mass voluntary vaccinations against COVID-19 next week as Russia recorded 58 new daily deaths from the coronavirus. Russia will have produced 2 million vaccine doses within the next few days, Putin said. Russia said last month that it Sputnik V jab was 92% effective at protecting people from COVID-19 according to interim results.

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“Let’s agree on this – you will not report to me next week but you will start mass vaccination…let’s get to work already,” Putin told Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova. Golikova said large-scale vaccination could begin on voluntary basis in December. The rise in infections has slowed since reaching a high o Nov. 27, with 25,345 new cases reported on Wednesday.

Russia’s vaccine Sputnik V

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Russia has resisted imposing lockdowns during the second wave of the virus preferring targeted regional curbs. With 2,347,401 infections, Russia has the fourth-larges number of COVID-19 cases in the world behind the United States India and Brazil. It has recorded 41,053 deaths related t COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The Kremlin earlier gave assurances that Russians were first in line to be vaccinated, with Moscow also discussing supply deals with other countries.” The absolute priority are Russians,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“Production within Russia, which is already being developed, will meet the needs of Russians.”

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Authorities in St Petersburg, which reported 3,684 new infections on Wednesday, ordered bars and restaurants to clos from Dec. 30 until Jan. 3, to combat the rise in cases there the RIA news agency reported.

Museums, theatres and concert halls would be closed to the public in the city of more than 5 million people for th duration of Russia’s New Year holidays, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 10.