Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will receive World Health Organisation approval soon, opening the doors to free travel to about 200 million people immunised with the jab.

During a video call on Sunday with Francesco Rocca, the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Putin said the move was essential to boost global supply, particularly to countries in need.

“We intend to expand such assistance,” Putin said.

The WHO has been reviewing data about Sputnik V as part of its approval process, paving the way for the jab to be included into the COVAX program, which delivers COVID-19 vaccines to countries around the world based on need.

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Putin’s comments come after Russia faced its deadliest and largest coronavirus surge in recent months, which saw infections and deaths climb to new heights. More than 281,000 people have succumbed to the virus in the country to date, the largest death toll in Europe.

Russia was the first country in the world to authorise a coronavirus vaccine, launching Sputnik V in August 2020, but uptake has been slow.

Putin has remained adamant vaccinations should remain voluntary, and on Sunday said health authorities were using “persuasion and not pressure” to promote their uptake.

They were also dispelling “prejudices and myths driving the aversion to vaccination” he said.

Putin himself was immunised with Sputnik V in autumn, and last month received a booster shot of Sputnik Light and an experimental nasal version of the vaccine.

The Gamaleya Institute, the developer of the vaccine, has announced it will immediately start working on adapting the shot to counter the new Omicron strain of the virus, adding current versions of the jab should still offer protection against the variant.

The vaccine woes come at a politically challenging time for Putin, marred by low approval ratings and growing tension at the Ukraine border.

Russia is planning to station 175,000 troops near Ukraine by early next year, sparking fear amid Western officials it could be a prelude to an invasion.

With AP