translated from Spanish: Moscow begins mass coVID-19 vaccination with its Sputnik V

MOSCOW, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Moscow on Saturday initiated the first mass vaccination in Russia against COVID-19, administering through 70 clinics its candidate Sputnik V, said the city’s coronavirus task force.
The vaccine manufactured in Russia will be applied first to doctors and other health workers, teachers and social workers, who are at increased risk of exposure to the disease, the working group said.
“You work in an educational institution and have priority for the COVID-19 vaccine, at no cost,” the text message received on Saturday morning at first hour by aMoscovite teacher who had Reuters access to.
Moscow, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Russia, recorded 7,993 new cases in the last 24 hours, up from 6,868 the previous day and well above the daily figures of around 700 seen in early September.
“For the first five hours, 5,000 people signed up for the vaccine: teachers, doctors and social workers,” city mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday.
The age of people who will receive the dose of Sputnik V cannot exceed 60 years. It will also not be able to be received by those with certain health problems, pregnant women and those who have suffered from respiratory disease in the last two weeks.
The scientific community has expressed concern about how quickly Russia has given its candidates the regulatory approval and launched mass vaccination campaigns before the necessary tests to check their safety and efficacy have been completed.
The Sputnik V vaccine is given in two injections. The second dose is expected to be given 21 days after the first dose.
(Information by Vladimir Soldatkin; edited by Pravin Char; translation by Jorge Martínez)

Original source in Spanish