Putin takes an experimental vaccine as fatalities surge

VLADIMIR PUTIN says he has taken an experimental nasal vaccine as Russia faces its worst surge of Covid infections and deaths.

The Russian president (pictured) was vaccinated with Sputnik V, Russia’s domestically developed Covid-19 treatment, in the spring.

On Sunday he had a booster shot of Sputnik Light, the one-dose version of the jab, and yesterday he had the nasal medicine as he said he wanted to take part in its testing.

Denis Logunov, deputy director of Russia’s statefunded Gamaleya Centre that developed Sputnik V, told Mr Putin the nasal vaccine is yet to go through clinical studies and is currently being tested ‘off-label mostly’ on the centre’s staff members. The treatment still faces several trial phases.

Mr Putin told a government meeting: ‘Exactly six months after vaccination, my level of antibodies has dropped, and specialists recommended the procedure of revaccination, which I did.’

In recent weeks, Russia has regularly reported new daily records for Covid deaths. Yesterday 1,240 were reported along with 33,558 infections. In all it has seen more than 9.4million cases and 267,000 deaths. That is Europe’s highest recorded death toll and experts say the true figure may be far higher.