푸틴 "코로나19 백신 아직 안맞아…전문가 권고하면 꼭 맞을 것"
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has yet to receive the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
He also denied accusations the Russian government was behind the poisoning of one of his harshest critics.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Speaking at his annual press conference on Thursday,... Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has not yet been vaccinated with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine,... saying it has not been recommended for those 65 or older yet.
"The vaccines that go into civilian circulation are currently provided for citizens in a certain age zone, and vaccines have not yet reached people like me. I am a fairly law-abiding person. I listen to the recommendations of our specialists. So I haven't had the shot yet. But I will absolutely do it as soon as that becomes possible."
The 68-year-old added citizens in other age groups were receiving the vaccine before he has access to it.
The Sputnik V vaccine has been touted in Russia as the world's first registered COVID-19 vaccine,... after receiving regulatory approval in August.
However,... it drew criticism from experts as it had only been tested on several dozen people at the time.
Putin ordered wide-scale vaccinations in Russia earlier this month,... with healthcare workers and teachers at the front of the line.
Russia has recorded more than 2-point-7 million COVID-19 cases,... and 49-thousand deaths.
Data published this week found the Russian-made vaccine to be 91-point-4 percent effective.
Putin also brushed aside allegations that the Russian state was behind opposition leader Alexei Navalny's poisoning earlier this year,... saying it was a "trick" to harm the Russian government.
Navalny who survived the poisoning is currently recovering in Berlin.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
