Russian President Vladimir Putin said he expects the country's population to develop herd immunity against COVID-19 and lift pandemic-related restrictions by the end of the summer, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday, citing his televised comments on Rossiya-1.

Speaking on his vaccination earlier this week, Putin said the only side effects he experienced were slight pain in his muscles the next morning and mild discomfort at the injection site.

The 68-year-old was given a Russian-made vaccine shot on Tuesday but did not disclose which one of the three homegrown jabs he received. 

Putin also urged the public to get vaccinated, saying it's "needed, even necessary."

(With input from Reuters)