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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has received a first dose of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
- The 58-year-old President and his wife received the jab in Caracas
- Venezuela received 100,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine on Saturday
- The nation also plans to distribute the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines
A video published by Mr Maduro's own Twitter account showed the President and his wife, Celia Flores, getting the shot in the capital city Caracas on Saturday.
"They say you come out speaking Russian," Mr Maduro joked while waiting for the vaccine, wearing a face mask and a white t-shirt.
Moments after the video was published, state television showed the arrival of a second shipment of 100,000 doses of Sputnik V.
Mr Maduro said 60 per cent of the doses from the first shipment of the Russian vaccine had already been applied.
LoadingThe government would start distributing 500,000 doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine from Monday, he said.
Through the World Health Organization's COVAX program, Venezuela has also reserved 1.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The initiative is designed at helping developing countries obtain vaccine supplies.
LoadingHowever, due to the disputed results of the 2018 election when challenger Juan Guaido declared himself president, Venezuela has been unable to access some of its government money held overseas, delaying payment for vaccines.
According to Johns Hopkins University, Venezuela has recorded 1,371 deaths from coronavirus, with 141,356 cases.
Only 157 people in the South American nation have been vaccinated so far, the university reported.
ABC/wires