Oliver Stone has taken the Russian coronavirus vaccine and has accused the West of “ignoring” the injection.
The 74-year-old radical left-wing director told Russian media he had “heard good things about the Russian vaccine” before taking it himself.
Russia began mass launching the Sputnik V vaccine last week, but those over 60 have not been included after experts warned it could be detrimental to them.
And Stone, who directed a film about Edward Snowden in 2016, said he was “hopeful” the vaccine would work for him after his second shot after 45 days.
Radical left-wing director Oliver Stone, 74, has been vaccinated against Russian coronavirus and has accused the West of “ignoring” the injection.
He said, “I got a vaccine, yes. I don’t know if it will work, I got it a few days ago.
Yes, I have heard good things about the Russian vaccine. I have to do a second shot in about 45 days or so. I have to go back but I have hope.
“It’s a very good vaccine. I don’t understand why it’s being ignored in the West.”
While the excitement and enthusiasm the coronavirus vaccines developed by the West received when they were released, the Russian-made version has received a mixed response.
There have been reports of empty clinics in Moscow offering the shot to health workers and teachers, the first members of the public designated to receive it.
A vial with the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a medical room rests on a table before vaccination in Moscow on Thursday, December 10th. Russia launched the mass launch last week, but those over 60 have not been included after experts warned it could be potentially detrimental to them.
Kremlin officials and state-controlled media announced the vaccine against Sputnik V as a major success after it was approved on August 11th.
But among Russians, hopes that the shot would reverse the course of the Covid-19 crisis have been mixed with caution and skepticism.
Some have concerns about how it rushed when they were in final testing to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
Russia has faced international criticism for approving a vaccine that has not completed advanced trials among tens of thousands of people, and experts, both national and international, have warned of its wider use until studies are completed.
Despite these warnings, authorities began offering it to certain high-risk groups, such as front-line medical workers, within weeks of approval.
Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine, said last week more than 150,000 Russians have gotten it.
Dr. Alexander Zatsepin, an ICU specialist in Voronezh, a town 500 kilometers south of Moscow, received the vaccine in October.
He said: “We have been working with Covid-19 patients since March and every day we get home we are concerned about infecting our family members.
“So when some kind of opportunity came up to protect me and myself, I thought it should be used.”
In the same interview with Russian media, Stone added that he believed that Russia and China could be “big partners” in the US to fight climate change.
He said: “The United States, somehow, in its madness, believes that China and Russia are enemies. I am not.
Stone has previously denied Russia’s participation in the 2016 presidential election and made a documentary about Vladimir Putin (pictured)
“I see Russia and China as great partners in the fight against climate change, in the future.
“Russia has been one of the most advanced, if not the most advanced, countries in the development of nuclear energy.”
The Scarface writer has previously denied Russia’s participation in the 2016 presidential election and has made a documentary about Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to the nation in 2017, he said: “The influence of the elections for the Russians for me is absurd to the naked eye.
‘Israel has much more influence in the US elections through AIPAC.
“Saudi Arabia has influence thanks to money, Sheldon Anderson and the Koch brothers have much more influence in the US elections.”