The rollout of Russia's Sputnik vaccine was roundly criticised, now more than a billion doses have been ordered around the world FriFriday 12 updated FriFriday 12 In August 2020, Russia became the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. ( Share Print text only Cancel When Russia registered a vaccine for COVID-19, it was widely ridiculed and even declared dangerous but new research is revealing it could be highly effective. Key points: A medical journal reports Russia's Sputnik vaccine has an efficacy rate of over 91 per cent Felix Light says he found it easy to get vaccinated in Moscow The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is close to 100 per cent effective against the most severe illness from COVID-19, says epidemiologist