VIDEO. Exclusive CNN Footage from the Production Facility of Sputnik V

Russia showcases its new Covid-19 vaccine production facility, even as Russians shy away from being vaccinated. Decades ago, Soviet scientists studied biological weapons at a testing site located about 70 miles east of Moscow. Now, this site is used for the mass production of a vaccine aimed at protecting people worldwide against the coronavirus.

CNN has gained exclusive access to the factory where Generic Pharmaceutical is currently located, which has signed a contract with Sputnik V for mass production of the Russian vaccine against Covid-19. Essentially, while the production process was known on a small laboratory scale, creating it on a larger industrial scale is an entirely different endeavor.

“We are currently producing several million doses every month and hope to reach 10 or 20 million doses monthly,” Dmitry Poteryaev, Chief Scientist of GENERIUM, told CNN.

Notably, demand for Sputnik V among Russians remains very low. The article notes that it is the country with some of the highest Covid-19 infection rates in the world, with over 4.1 million cases. Yet, it also has the highest indecision rate regarding vaccines.

A recent public opinion survey published by the Levada Center revealed that only 38 percent of Russians are willing to get vaccinated. It is worth mentioning that earlier, one of the key scientists behind the vaccine’s development stated that about 2.2 million people, or at least 2 percent of Russia’s population, have received two doses of the vaccine.

Sputnik V was the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved for use anywhere in the world last August, even before large-scale trials were completed on people. There was initially widespread skepticism toward Sputnik V, named after the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, kicking off the space race with the United States.

Critics claim that “Putin’s vaccine” was created within the context of a global race to emphasize the Kremlin's power, regardless of its efficacy or safety. However, results from extensive studies published earlier this month in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet indicate that the vaccine’s efficacy is 91.6%.

According to monitoring groups, conspiracy theories surrounding vaccines are inciting outrage online and gaining significant traction among Russians. Alexander Arkhipov, a social anthropologist at a state university, told CNN that many Russians have a cultural tendency to distrust medical opinions, viewed as a government-controlled intervention in people’s personal lives.

Another reason for doubt may be that, although Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his daughter had been vaccinated, many are not sure he has actually been vaccinated. The Kremlin has avoided questions on this topic, stating that Putin will get vaccinated soon, and the nation will be informed when he finally receives the shot.