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Coronavirus pandemic

Russia likely to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by late summer, says Putin

In order to make this happen, some 70% of adult population should get the jab, the president stressed

© Alexey Druzhinin/Russia's presidential press service/TASS

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that herd immunity against COVID-19 in Russia will be developed by the end of summer.

In an interview with Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel, answering a question when the pandemic restrictions in Russia could be lifted and the country would return to a normal life, the president assured that "this will happen."

He recommended to "listen to specialists" who say that restrictions could be lifted "after herd immunity is developed."

"In order to make this happen, some 70% of adult population should get the jab. If [mass vaccination] goes at the same pace as now, I believe that in summer, by the end of summer we will achieve, we should achieve this figure," the president stressed.

Three vaccines against COVID-19 have been registered in Russia. The first vaccine registered in the country and in the world is Sputnik V, developed by the Gamaleya Center of Russia’s Health Ministry. It was certified on August 11, 2020. EpiVacCorona by the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology of the consumer rights watchdog was registered in October 2020. The third vaccine CoviVac by the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Chumakov Center was authorized by the Health Ministry in February.

Russia launched mass vaccination against COVID-19 in January 2021. According to the latest data, more than 6 mln Russians have received one vaccine dose and more than 4 mln of them have taken two doses.

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