Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers who are at high risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 at newly opened clinics across the city, reported AFP.

According to health officials, 70 coronavirus vaccine centres have been opened in the capital that would initially offer jabs for health, education and social workers. Officials said, “Citizens from the main risk groups who in connection with their professional activities come into contact with a large number of people can get vaccinated.”

Russia was one of the first countries to announce the development of its vaccine against COVID-19, Sputnik V, in August even before beginning final clinical trials. Sputnik V is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.

Also read: Russian President Putin orders widespread vaccination for COVID-19 from next week

Last month, the developers said that interim results had shown the vaccine to be 95% effective and that the vaccine would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives.

The vaccine is set to be free for all Russian citizens while inoculation will be voluntary. Health officials said that the jab would not be available to workers over 60, those with chronic diseases, and pregnant or breastfeeding women during the initial rollout in Moscow. When the vaccine would be available to the wider public is yet to be known.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Friday said that 5,000 people had registered to be vaccinated within the first five hours of online registration having opened.

“I want to be sure that the coronavirus won’t infect me and my loved ones,” said Sergei Buslayev, a 42-year-old insurance worker.

“I want to be able to go to the gym safely and lead my life normally again,” he added.

The mass vaccination rollout began as Russia set a new daily record for coronavirus infections.

Health officials on Saturday reported 28,782 new infections, bringing the national total to 2,431,731 cases since the beginning of the pandemic — the fourth-highest caseload in the world.

Despite the surge in cases, Russia has not imposed the kind of nationwide lockdowns seen in some parts of Europe, although restrictions were imposed in some major cities.

Instead, they pinned their hopes on ending the pandemic on vaccines.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday told health officials to start widespread vaccinations next week, adding that Russia has produced close to two million doses of Sputnik V.

Last month Russia’s defence ministry announced that a mass vaccination campaign has been rolled out in the military, aiming to inoculate over 400,000 servicemen, including 80,000 by the end of this year.

Russia’s Levada polling agency in a recent survey found that only 36% of respondents were prepared to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.