Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was vaccinated against coronavirus with the Sputnik V vaccine.
"As for me, when I did, it was in February or something, we had two [vaccines] in civil circulation essentially. EpiVacCorona of the Novosibirsk Vector Center and Sputnik V, as you know. They are both good <...> I proceeded from the fact that I need to be protected as long as possible and made a decision for myself to be vaccinated with Sputnik V," the Russian president said during his annual direct line.
Putin noted that his daughter has also been vaccinated with Sputnik V and stressed that the vaccine is needed and has no serious consequences.
"There are people with different constitutions, with chronic diseases, and in age - the so-called risk groups. It's life-threatening. And the vaccination is not dangerous, we do not have any serious complications," the head of state added.
In addition, the president said that for a long time he did not tell what vaccine he was vaccinated with so as not to create a competitive advantage of one vaccine over the other.
Putin said that people in his inner circle got COVID-19 after the vaccination and endured the infection easily.
"My close people were also vaccinated, got sick, unfortunately. It went away pretty quickly, too. And they weren't even treated with any heavy special drugs. These are people from my immediate vicinity," said the head of state.
Effect of vaccination
Consequences of coronavirus infection, incurred without a vaccine, can be severe, the president said.
"If a person gets sick without a vaccination, the long-term consequences can be very severe," the head of state said.
Putin asked Direct Line host Ekaterina Berezovskaya if she had been vaccinated. She replied that she had been ill not long ago and that it was too early for her to be vaccinated.
"The Ministry of Health makes recommendations and the World Health Organization just recently, a few days ago, made its recommendations. Under normal conditions, when there is no pandemic, it is recommended to be vaccinated after 12 months, and when there is still a peak, the current peak, an increase in the disease, it is recommended to do a secondary vaccination after six months. These are the WHO recommendations," the president said.
He also advised to keep a close eye on one's health and, if necessary, to rehabilitate oneself.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS