President Vladimir Putin acclaims that Russia is now the first country in the world to grant approval to a Covid-19 vaccine after under two months of human testing.

The development will pave the way for the mass inoculation of the Russian population, even as the final stage of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue.

Russia is moving to bring out its vaccine highlights as its determination to win the global race for an effective product but has stirred concerns that it may be putting national prestige before sound science and safety.