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Coronavirus pandemic

Putin orders to move to mass COVID-19 vaccination for Russians starting next week

The president noted that the relevant infrastructure should be prepared

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

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NOVO-OGARYOVO, January 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed authorities to move forward with mass coronavirus inoculation for all Russians starting next week.

"We have already started large-scale vaccination. Last week, [Prime Minister] Mikhail [Mishustin] reported to me that the industry had not only kept up with the promised targets and volumes but also exceeded the planned vaccine production targets. We need to move from large-scale to mass vaccination," Putin told a cabinet meeting.

"I ask you to launch mass vaccination for the whole population starting next week and come up with the respective schedule of work, as is done with other infections like flu," the president added.

He noted that the relevant infrastructure should be prepared for mass inoculation. "Thank God, our vaccine does not require any extreme or unusual transportation conditions like temperature of minus 50 or minus 70 [degrees Celsius - TASS]. It works in a much simpler and efficient way," Putin explained.

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European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Moscow, Minsk pushing for peace even as 'war in the air' — Belarusian official

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