The first batches of the coronavirus vaccine will be released within two weeks, first of all, they will be sent to doctors, the head of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Murashko said.
"Over the next two weeks, the first packages of the drug vaccine against the coronavirus infection will be received, primarily for medical professionals," he said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Domestic market
Production of the coronavirus vaccine will be focused primarily on the domestic market.
"I think that first of all those production facilities that are in the Russian Federation, they will be focused on the domestic market, because we need to close the needs of our citizens," Murashko said.
He added that Russia would offer the production of the vaccine at foreign sites.
"Today, such negotiations are underway. RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund-ed. TASS) has joined the work on exporting technologies and medicines directly, and it is possible to produce them at other sites," the Minister added.
Voluntary vaccination
Vaccination against the new coronavirus infection will be voluntary, including for doctors - in those institutions where up to 20% of employees already have immunity.
"In any case, the vaccination will be voluntary. And for those doctors who already have immunity- up to 20% of medical workers in different organizations -,we believe, that vaccination is not necessary. Therefore, it will be offered directly to the choice of a medical professional," Murashko said.
The Ministry recommends that most medical professionals, as well as people with chronic diseases, get vaccinated against the flu.
"I would like to note that we would recommend vaccination against influenza to all patients who have obesity, chronic heart disease, lung disease, diabetes. < ... > And we recommend [getting vaccinated] to medical workers to protect them and patients of medical organizations. The volume of staff vaccination should be 80-85%, " Murashko said.
The head of the Ministry of Health also called for teachers to be vaccinated. In addition, the Agency recommends that citizens, in particular those from risk groups, be vaccinated against pneumococcal infection.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS