Putin orders mass vaccination of Russians for coronavirus
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin told health officials on Wednesday to start mass Covid-19 vaccinations next week, adding that the country had produced close to 2 million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine.
Health minister Mikhail Murashko on Wednesday said more than 100,000 people had already been vaccinated, as Moscow presented its vaccine to the United Nations over video link.
Last week, Russia announced that interim test results showed that Sputnik V was 95% effective, a higher efficacy than its international competitors.
It is in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.
Meanwhile, the Interpol global police co-ordination agency warned on Wednesday that organised criminal networks could be targeting Covid-19 vaccines, and could look to sell fake shots.
In new advice issued on Wednesday, the World Health
Organization said people living in areas with Covid-19 spread should wear masks in shops, workplaces and schools if ventilation is not adequate.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new guidelines that will allow people who have come in contact to someone infected with the virus to resume normal activity after 10 days, or 7 days if they receive a negative test result.
That’s down from the 14-day period recommended since the onset of the pandemic.
Hong Kong is limiting most gatherings to just two people in measures to contain a new wave of the coronavirus.