Putin to get Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine
Confirmation comes after Russia launched vaccination programme earlier in December
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Your support makes all the difference.President Vladimir Putin will receive the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, a Kremlin spokesman has confirmed.
Dmitry Peskov told Rossiya 1 TV Channel: "He (Putin) said he will be vaccinated, he made this decision and was waiting until all formalities are completed."
Russia launched a voluntary vaccination programme with the Sputnik V vaccine earlier in December, starting with the most vulnerable groups in Moscow.
People over the age of 60 may begin to apply for the jab on Monday, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Sunday, after the Russian health ministry said the vaccine was approved for use by elderly people following a separate trial.
The country is currently in the grip of a second wave of the virus but Russia has so far resisted a nationwide lockdown.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Russia passed three million on Saturday, with 54,226 deaths.
Mr Putin has said the Russian vaccine is effective and safe and he saw no reason not to be vaccinated.
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in Russia, Mr Putin has mainly worked remotely, holding meetings via videolink and limiting travel.
He said in August that one of his daughters had taken part in the clinical trial of the vaccine and felt well afterwards.
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