Putin Reveals Why He Won't Be Taking Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin says that he will not be taking the Russian COVID-19 vaccine just yet because people his age aren't cleared by experts to get a shot.

Putin stated this at an annual conference on Thursday, saying, “Experts tell us that the vaccines now available are intended for citizens in a specific age category. 

“The vaccines haven’t reached people like me. I’ll do it as soon as it becomes possible.”

There are over 2.7 million COVID-19 cases in Russia, making it the fourth-highest in the world.

In response to the disease, the Russian Government had funded research that created the Sputnik V vaccine.

The vaccine has been approved for use by doctors on patients up to 60 years of age.

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According to the leader, the production of the vaccine has been impeded by a paucity of equipment needed to create more doses.

However, Putin assured that millions would get to be vaccinated by next year, asserting that the country's delivery of vaccines to other countries would not disrupt the supply locally.

Speaking on the effect of the pandemic on the Russian economy, Putin said that the country fared better than other leading economies in Europe and the European Union, and in the US.

“That’s less than all leading countries in Europe and the European Union, less than the U.S.,” he said.