Russia in race for virus vaccine

Biotech firm BioCad in Saint Petersburg produces the Russian Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine registered under trade name Sputnik V. At the beginning of December, Russian President Vladimir Putin told health officials to start widespread vaccinations from December 7th, adding that Russia has produced close to two million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine. Sputnik V -- dubbed after the Soviet-era satellite -- is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials involving some 40,000 volunteers.