Putin says all Russian COVID-19 vaccines are effective

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said all Russian vaccines against COVID-19 were effective, adding that the country would soon register a third shot against the virus, the RIA news agency reported.

Russia is rolling out its Sputnik V vaccine for domestic use despite the fact that late-stage trials have not yet finished, and on Tuesday said it was more than 90% effective, following earlier comments by vaccine developers Pfizer Inc and BioNTech, who said the same of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

"There are already two registered vaccines. And studies have already shown and confirmed that, firstly, these vaccines are safe and have no serious side-effects after use, and secondly, they are all effective," said Putin via video conference at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting.

Russia's vaccine efficacy was based upon data collated from vaccinations of the public, rather than from an ongoing trial.

Putin also said Moscow was ready to cooperate on coronavirus vaccines and agreed with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that the jab should be made widely available for all of humankind, TASS reported.

"We suggest not politicising these processes, considering that people all over the planet are today in need of these drugs, without any exaggeration," he said.

"We are ready to work with all countries of the world and of course, with our partners within the SCO framework."

Russia on Tuesday reported 20,977 new coronavirus infections and 368 deaths. At 1,817,109, its overall case tally is the fifth largest in the world, behind the United States, India, Brazil and France.