Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he has taken the Sputnik V experimental nasal vaccine against COVID-19.
Putin received his booster shot of Sputnik Light on Sunday, the Associated Press reported. He said he did not experience significant side effects.
“[The doctor] sprayed it into both nostrils,” Putin said. “To be honest, I didn’t feel anything. Nothing at all.”
RUSSIA WARNS OF ‘ARMED CONFLICTS’ WITH NATO, BUT BELARUS MIGHT BE PUTIN’S TARGET
Sputnik Light is a single-dose vaccine against COVID-19 that the country approved during the summer.
Russia is currently experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases, though new cases appear to have peaked during early November. On Tuesday, the country had nearly 34,000 new cases, according to the Worldometer COVID-19 tracker. Deaths from COVID-19 are still climbing in Russia, with an estimated 1,200 deaths on Tuesday, according to the tracker.
After taking the vaccine, Putin encouraged the country to get vaccinated, the Moscow Times reported. He said he had firsthand experience that everything goes as the scientists predicted.
An estimated 45% of Russians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the New York Times world vaccination tracker. For comparison, 70% of the United States has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Putin was vaccinated with the Russian-developed Sputnik V in the spring, the Associated Press reported. Some U.S. experts initially expressed doubts about its effectiveness, but subsequent studies showed it was safe and effective. The nasal form of Sputnik V was just approved for clinical trials and is still technically an experimental drug, according to the outlet.
In September, Putin self-isolated after members of his inner circle tested positive for COVID-19. There have been no reports suggesting he ever tested positive for the disease.
