Mikhail Mishustin: “We are continuing to ramp up vaccination. Every day more than 15,000 people are making an appointment via the government services website. We must make sure that no appointments are denied due to vaccine shortage. Such cases are unacceptable and vaccinations must be organised in such a manner so as to be able to meet the necessary deadlines and to allow people to plan their time.”
Mikhail Mishustin holds meeting on the manufacturing and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Meeting on the production and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine
Good afternoon, colleagues. Today we are discussing the production of all the COVID-19 vaccines registered in Russia, with vaccine manufacturers also present.
We are continuously monitoring the trends concerning the spread of this infection. A new wave of coronavirus cases has been growing in 30 European countries and other states over a period of the past week. We need to introduce additional measures to prevent this wave from hitting our country. Especially because the long weekends in May are coming up. Many people are planning holidays, including foreign trips. We must lower the risks of importing new, more aggressive and less-researched strains.
Experts are currently analysing the effect of our vaccines on the new strains. Russia currently has three registered vaccines; two are being produced on a commercial scale and supplied to the Russian regions. One more is awaiting rollout. We are working on scaling up the production. Significant quantities of the vaccines are available, each having proven efficacy. Each of the registered Russian vaccines helps protect people’s health and prevent any severe complications. What is also important is that they are affordable. As you are aware, their prices have been reregistered and a two-dose set now costs not more than 860 roubles.
While some countries are suspending one of the European vaccines, the Russian vaccines are winning new markets. In particular, Sputnik V is now registered in 60 countries.
Of course, this became possible thanks to our scientists who have completed a huge amount of work and made a tremendous contribution to fighting the coronavirus. And they are not stopping yet. The fourth Russian vaccine is currently going through the registration process with the Healthcare Ministry. It is Sputnik Light. Once it is included in the vaccination programme, more people will be able to receive their jabs.
It is also of tremendous importance that people should understand all about their opportunities and how the vaccines work. And, of course, we need to explain why jabs are necessary. Mr Murashko (Addressing Mikhail Murashko), I would like to ask you to continue the relevant work together with doctors and other specialists. Please inform the public on the vaccine’s advantages in detail, and explain how this helps combat the virus.
As per the President’s instruction, the vaccination campaign is continuing all over the country. Almost 5,000 centres are offering absolutely free jabs. We are continuing to ramp up vaccination. Every day more than 15,000 people are making an appointment via the government services website. We must make sure that no appointments are denied due to vaccine shortage. Such cases are unacceptable and vaccinations must be organised in such a manner so as to be able to meet the necessary deadlines and to allow people to plan their time. I would like to say to all the regional authorities that they should handle citizens’ complaints more actively, and that they should quickly respond to them.
I am happy to note that, judging by our daily updates, the share of complaints continues to go down.
Here is another important aspect. All of us know that senior citizens are more susceptible to the coronavirus infection. People aged over 60 now account for less than 50 percent of those vaccinated. We need to more actively vaccinate this population category. For reasons of old age, they are not always able to reach vaccination centres and outpatient clinics on their own. We should make the entire vaccination process more affordable and people- friendly, as the President has repeatedly noted.
I would also like to call on the regional leaders to set up local jab teams for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Or they should help these people to safely and comfortably reach vaccination centres. Please find out what option suits your territory most of all. We cannot leave senior citizens to their own devices because they are extremely vulnerable in the face of the infection. Let’s get down to work, and let’s discuss the pace of vaccine manufacture and their deliveries to the regions.
