Putin gets his second COVID-19 jab

"Just now <...> I have received the second jab," Putin told the Russian Geographical Society’s board meeting on Wednesday.

"I hope everything will be fine," Putin said. "I do not just hope, I’m sure about this."

Putin hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic will recede soon, in particular due to the vaccination drive.

"I hope that the pandemic will die down soon, namely due to the vaccination that we actively promote," the Russian president said.

Putin commended the Russian Geographical Society for holding summer meetings in various regions. He added that "it was hard to do this during the pandemic, practically impossible."

The Russian president received the first vaccine dose on March 23. Details of the jab were not revealed. The president and his representatives explained that all three Russian vaccines were effective and safe.

The head of state said after the first jab he felt fine and only felt a little discomfort in his left shoulder for a couple of days. He announced plans to get vaccinated in late March.

Russia was the first in the world to register an anti-coronavirus vaccine on August 11, 2020. The jab, developed by the Russian Health Ministry’s Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, was dubbed Sputnik V. It is a vector vaccine based on the human adenovirus.

Russia currently has three registered coronavirus vaccines, Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona and CoviVac. All three shots require two doses to be administered.