Putin orders Russia to get started mass Covid-19 vaccinations in a few days
President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian authorities on the subject of Wednesday (Dec 2) to begin mass voluntary vaccinations against Covid-19 in a few days as Russia recorded 589 latest daily deaths from the coronavirus.
Russia will have produced two million vaccine doses next few days, Mr Putin said.
Russia said last month that its Sputnik V jab was first 92 % effective at protecting people from Covid-19 according to interim results.
"Let's acknowledge this - you will not report to me in a few days, but you will begin mass vaccination...let's reach do the job already," Mr Putin told Deputy Primary Minister Tatiana Golikova.
Mr Golikova said large-scale vaccination could get started on a good voluntary basis in December.
The rise in infections has slowed since reaching a higher on Nov 27, with 25,345 innovative cases reported on Wednesday.
Russia features resisted imposing lockdowns during the second wave of the virus, preferring targeted regional curbs.
With 2,347,401 infections, Russia has the fourth-largest number of Covid-19 cases in the world behind america, India and Brazil.
It has recorded 41,053 deaths linked to Covid-19 since the start of pandemic.
The Kremlin earlier gave assurances that Russians were first in collection to be vaccinated, with Moscow also discussing supply handles other countries.
"The absolute priority are Russians," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Development within Russia, which has already been being designed, will meet the necessities of Russians." Authorities in St Petersburg, which reported 3,684 new infections on Wednesday, purchased bars and restaurants to close from Dec 30 until Jan 3, to combat the rise in cases there, the RIA media agency reported.
Museums, theatres and concert halls will be closed to the public in the metropolis greater than five million persons throughout Russia's New Year holidays, from Dec 30 to Jan 10.
