<p>Russia's military has started a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign which aims to innoculate more than 400,000 servicemen, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Friday.</p>.<p>Shoigu said that over 2,500 soldiers had already been vaccinated, adding that by the end of the year the number is expected to reach 80,000.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html" target="_blank"><strong>15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a></p>.<p>Russia this week said that its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was 95 per cent effective according to preliminary data -- similar to other international vaccine makers that have also published test results showing efficacy rates of 90 per cent and higher.</p>.<p>Sputnik V's developers have touted it as easier to store than some alternatives and at less than $10 (8.38 euros) per dose the cheapest among frontrunners in a global race to develop a vaccine.</p>.<p>The Sputnik V vaccine -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- was registered in August and is currently undergoing its third and final stage of trials involving more than 40,000 volunteers.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Shoigu on Friday said that more than 400,000 servicemen of Russia's armed forces will be vaccinated against Covid-19 following an order from President Vladimir Putin.</p>.<p>The minister did not specify whether vaccination will be voluntary for soldiers, many of whom are drafted into the army for compulsory service.</p>.<p>He added that some 500 vaccinated servicemen with high levels of antibodies are involved in research of plasma treatment which has proven "effective in severe cases of the infection".</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/coronavirus-vaccine-live-updates-covaxin-clinical-trials-human-trials-coronavirus-vaccine%20tracker-india-russia-us-china-oxford-moderna-bharat-biotech-866148.html" target="_blank"><strong>Coronavirus vaccine news live updates on DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Russia's defence ministry was involved in the initial stages of developing Sputnik V and its servicemen were among the first volunteers to receive the jab during early-stage trials.</p>.<p>Shoigu, 65, was himself among a number of top Russian officials who received the vaccine earlier this year.</p>.<p>More than 4,100 servicemen have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in the spring, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Russia's military has started a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign which aims to innoculate more than 400,000 servicemen, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Friday.</p>.<p>Shoigu said that over 2,500 soldiers had already been vaccinated, adding that by the end of the year the number is expected to reach 80,000.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html" target="_blank"><strong>15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a></p>.<p>Russia this week said that its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was 95 per cent effective according to preliminary data -- similar to other international vaccine makers that have also published test results showing efficacy rates of 90 per cent and higher.</p>.<p>Sputnik V's developers have touted it as easier to store than some alternatives and at less than $10 (8.38 euros) per dose the cheapest among frontrunners in a global race to develop a vaccine.</p>.<p>The Sputnik V vaccine -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- was registered in August and is currently undergoing its third and final stage of trials involving more than 40,000 volunteers.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Shoigu on Friday said that more than 400,000 servicemen of Russia's armed forces will be vaccinated against Covid-19 following an order from President Vladimir Putin.</p>.<p>The minister did not specify whether vaccination will be voluntary for soldiers, many of whom are drafted into the army for compulsory service.</p>.<p>He added that some 500 vaccinated servicemen with high levels of antibodies are involved in research of plasma treatment which has proven "effective in severe cases of the infection".</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/coronavirus-vaccine-live-updates-covaxin-clinical-trials-human-trials-coronavirus-vaccine%20tracker-india-russia-us-china-oxford-moderna-bharat-biotech-866148.html" target="_blank"><strong>Coronavirus vaccine news live updates on DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Russia's defence ministry was involved in the initial stages of developing Sputnik V and its servicemen were among the first volunteers to receive the jab during early-stage trials.</p>.<p>Shoigu, 65, was himself among a number of top Russian officials who received the vaccine earlier this year.</p>.<p>More than 4,100 servicemen have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in the spring, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.</p>