Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against compulsory vaccination against coronavirus infection, stressing that people themselves must realize the need for vaccination.

He stated this during a meeting on economic issues.

The head of state stressed that the most correct and civilized way to reduce the risks of the spread of infection and form collective immunity is widespread vaccination.

“Once again I want to state my position here.

In my opinion, it is impractical and impossible to introduce compulsory vaccination.

Citizens must themselves realize this need, understand that if they do not get vaccinated, they may face a very serious and even fatal danger, especially for older people, ”Putin stressed. 

The Russian leader again turned to the Russians, urging them to think carefully about the importance of vaccinations.

“Keep in mind that the Russian vaccine - this is shown by the practice of the millionth use - it is the most reliable and safest today, and all conditions have been created for vaccination in our country,” the president recalled.

He said that on the basis of the received practice and the multimillion-dollar use of the Russian drug, it was proved that the vaccine does not harm health and does not lead to any serious complications.

At the same time, the drug reliably protects against the threat of infection or prevents a severe course of the disease.

“Experts, scientists, have reliable, well-grounded information on this matter.

We must trust their professional opinion and listen to them.

The main thing is health.

I ask you to think about this, ”Putin stressed.

  • Vladimir Putin

  • kremlin.ru

As the director of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Vasily Akimkin said earlier, more than 10 million people in the country have already received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“More than 10 million people have been fully vaccinated, the total number of vaccinations has been more than 25 million,” he said.

In turn, the head of the Yekaterinburg Research Institute of Viral Infections of the State Scientific Center "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor, Doctor of Biological Sciences, virologist Alexander Semyonov said that people who get sick after vaccination carry the infection easily and have no complications.

He also stressed that such cases are very rare.

The expert also urged vaccinated Russians to continue wearing masks to protect those around them.

“Because if, for example, you kissed a person infected with a coronavirus, then for some time you will release the covid pathogen into the environment.

Yes, you yourself, most likely, will not get sick, but you can infect others, ”Semyonov explained.

Meanwhile, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies had asked Russia to supply the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

“The last appeal of this kind, for example, came to the Russian government from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,” she confirmed.

Mass vaccination against coronavirus infection began in Russia on January 18.

At the moment, four vaccines against COVID-19 have been registered in the country: Sputnik V of the Gamaleya Center, EpiVacCorona of the Vector Center and KoviVak of the M.P.

Chumakov Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as a single-component vaccine "Sputnik Light".

In addition, Yulia Melano, advisor to the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, said that vaccination of pets against COVID-19 has begun in a number of Russian regions.

“In a number of regions of Russia, on the basis of veterinary clinics, vaccination of pets against COVID-19 has begun.

The day before, the first consignments of the world's only vaccine Karnivak-Kov, developed by Russian scientists of the Rosselkhoznadzor with the aim of preventing disease among animals, were delivered to Russian cities, ”she said.

According to her, vaccination is carried out by private and public clinics, which have purchased the appropriate vaccine.