Russia launched a voluntary vaccination programme of Russia-made Sputnik V vaccine earlier in December, starting with the most vulnerable groups in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin is to receive the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a Russian state TV channel on Sunday.
“He said he will be vaccinated, he made this decision and was waiting until all formalities are completed,” the spokesman was quoted as saying to Rossiya 1 TV Channel on its website.
People over the age of 60 may begin to apply for shots on Monday, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his website on Sunday, the day after the Russian health ministry said the vaccine was approved for use by elderly people after a separate trial.
Putin, 68, had said earlier that Sputnik V was effective and safe, seeing no reason for people not to be vaccinated, adding he was waiting until it became available. Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in Russia, Putin has mainly worked remotely, held meetings via videolink and has limited travel. In August he said one of his daughters had taken part in the clinical trial of the vaccine and felt well afterwards.