Nearly two-thirds of Russians are not willing to receive Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, and about the same number believe the new coronavirus was created artificially as a biological weapon, an independent pollster has said.

The Levada Centre said a poll it conducted last month showed that 62 per cent of people did not want to get Russia's domestically produced vaccine, and that the highest level of reluctance was identified among 18 to 24-year-olds.

Most respondents cited side effects — which can include fever and fatigue — as the main reason for not wanting to get vaccinated.