Russians sign up for jab with start of mass vaccination

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - With the start of the mass vaccination campaign, hundreds of Russians rushed to hospitals in hope to secure their health from the novel infection.

Anadolu Agency's team visited municipal polyclinic No. 68 in Moscow to witness the milestone moment in Russia's fight against the pandemic.

To get a jab of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, people have to register on the city administration’s official website, and then to go through a medical examination, the polyclinic's chief medical officer Natalya Kuzenkova told Anadolu Agency.

"A person who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19 should not have been given any other vaccines in the past month.

"People with severe illnesses, those who have medications that affect the immune system, and those who have a fever can't get a vaccine. Also, those who want to get the vaccine should not have infectious diseases," she said.

After being inoculated, patients remain in a recreation room for 30 minutes under the medical surveillance. If they feel well, they leave.

During the time Anadolu Agency team was at the hospital, no case with adverse effects was observed.

Kuzenkova recalled that the vaccine is administered in two shots, with the second one, prolonging the immunization, given on the 21st day.

Asked about side effects of Sputnik V, Kuzenkova said nothing serious was revealed so far, while some of the recipients had a little pain and redness at the shot spot, some mild flu symptoms.

Some patients at the immunization site told Anadolu Agency that they recommend vaccination for everybody.

"I advise to get vaccinated to everyone. I trust Sputnik V vaccine," Irina Ushatkina said.

Another recipient, Natalya Piskareva, also defended the mass vaccination, saying side effects cannot be more dangerous than the virus itself.

Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine for public use. Later named the Sputnik V, the vaccine was called Gam-COVID-Vac (Gamaleya COVID Vaccine) by developers.

The vaccine is to be administered through two injections and currently authorized for people aged between 18 and 60 and can be combined with other antigens, including those used against the flu.

Sputnik V vaccine is temperature-sensible and supposed to be stored at low temperature and unfrozen right before use.

The cost of the two-component kit is 1,945 rubles (around $26).