Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he doesn't support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for Russians but urged the jab-sceptic population to get inoculated, as his country battles a deadly third wave. Putin made this disclosure when he addressed a range of domestic and foreign policy issues in a question-and-answer session during the annual “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”, which is broadcasted both on TV and radio.
His comments came as the country on Wednesday reported over 21,042 infections and 669 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, topping a record that was set in December last year. Hence, bringing Russia’s cases to more than 5.5 million, with 135,214 deaths from the virus, making the country the highest official toll in Europe and the fifth-highest worldwide.
Last year, Russia became the first country to grant approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, and release the first batch to the public. Although, with the availability of free jabs, only around 15 per cent of Russia’s population had received at least one dose as of Wednesday according to the Gogov website, which tallies Covid figures from the regions.
In mid-June of 2021, Russia saw infections spike in a third wave driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant first identified in India, authorities have said and worsened by a sluggish inoculation drive. With the increase in infection rate, some regional heads in Russia have ordered mandatory jabs for service sector employees.
Putin said Wednesday that the four homegrown vaccines were better than foreign alternatives, naming AstraZeneca and Pfizer. He added that he himself had been vaccinated with Sputnik V. “I chose to be vaccinated with Sputnik V. The military is getting vaccinated with Sputnik V, and after all, I’m the commander-in-chief.
“After the first shot, I didn’t feel anything at all. About four hours later, there was some tenderness where I had the shot. I did the second (shot) at midday. At midnight, I measured my temperature. It was 37.2 (Celsius). I went to sleep, woke up and my temperature was 36.6. That was it. I don’t support mandatory vaccination, and I continue to hold this point of view.” - Putin
Aside from the COVID-19 issue, Putin also discussed the battle he is involved in with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and the role of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who seek a meeting with Putin (he felt was weak due to the fact that his solving the unrest within the country in the USA). “Why should I meet with [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy if he has given up his country to full external control? Vital issues for Ukraine are not resolved in Kyiv, but in Washington and partly in Berlin and Paris. What is there to discuss? I’m not refusing (to meet him), I just need to understand what to talk about.” - Putin
He also spoke on the Role of the West (UK and USA) earlier this month over an incident on the Black Sea where it was reported that a British destroyer strayed into its territorial waters. The president tackled this as an act of provocation by the west to Russia and added that issues like this could lead to WW3.
Like Nigeria, Russia has banned and fined social media companies for encouraging Youth/ children to join protests. Putin said: “We don’t plan on blocking anyone, we plan to work with them. But there are problems. They tell us to buzz off and don’t comply with our demands and Russian laws. They don’t even listen to what we are saying. This is wrong.”
Finally, Putin stated that when the time is right, he would name his possible successor, but the choice would ultimately lie with voters.
