<p>Russia's Health Ministry has allowed a domestically designed coronavirus vaccine to be given to people older than 60.</p>.<p>Until Saturday's announcement by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, the Sputnik V vaccine was cleared for use for people aged 18-60.</p>.<p>Russia has been widely criticised for giving Sputnik V regulatory approval in August after it was tested only on a few dozen people and then rushing to offer it to people in risk groups — such as medical workers and teachers — within weeks of approval.</p>.<p>Authorities said this week that more than 300,000 people have received the vaccine even as the advanced studies among tens of thousands of people are continuing.</p>.<p>Sputnik Vs developers have said data suggests the vaccine was 91% effective, a conclusion based on 78 coronavirus infections among nearly 23,000 participants.</p>.<p>That's far fewer cases than Western drugmakers have accumulated during final testing before analysing how well their vaccine candidates worked.</p>
<p>Russia's Health Ministry has allowed a domestically designed coronavirus vaccine to be given to people older than 60.</p>.<p>Until Saturday's announcement by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, the Sputnik V vaccine was cleared for use for people aged 18-60.</p>.<p>Russia has been widely criticised for giving Sputnik V regulatory approval in August after it was tested only on a few dozen people and then rushing to offer it to people in risk groups — such as medical workers and teachers — within weeks of approval.</p>.<p>Authorities said this week that more than 300,000 people have received the vaccine even as the advanced studies among tens of thousands of people are continuing.</p>.<p>Sputnik Vs developers have said data suggests the vaccine was 91% effective, a conclusion based on 78 coronavirus infections among nearly 23,000 participants.</p>.<p>That's far fewer cases than Western drugmakers have accumulated during final testing before analysing how well their vaccine candidates worked.</p>