Minister: Vaccinated Russians to get e-certificate

Russian citizens vaccinated against coronavirus will be issued electronic vaccination certificates, Russia's Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced Saturday.

The certificate is automatically available on Gosuslugi, a state online portal for public services, since January 1st.

Murashko didn't specify how the document can be used, or if it will be required for any purposes.

Last month a mass vaccination program against COVID-19 started in Russia with the Sputnik V vaccine, which is still undergoing advanced tests among tens of thousands of people needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness.

Murashko said that more than 800,000 people have been already vaccinated and more than 1.5 million doses have been distributed to Russia's regions.

Front-line workers, such as doctors and teachers, were the first in line to get the shots.

Last week the Health Ministry cleared Sputnik V for use among those older than 60.

Russian authorities have reported over 3 million confirmed coronavirus infections, the fourth highest caseload in the world, and more than 58,000 deaths.

Russia has been swept by a rapid resurgence of the outbreak this fall, with numbers of confirmed infections and deaths significantly exceeding those reported in the spring.

The country's authorities have resisted imposing a second nationwide lockdown or a widespread closure of businesses.