According to Izvestia, citing Kremlin sources, Dmitry Peskov reacted to the Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova’s remark that encouraging COVID-19 immunization through limitations is “dishonest play.”
Moskalkova feels that coronavirus vaccination should be promoted in such a way that those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons are not discriminated against. She also discussed staff complaints received from several businesses.
Peskov stressed that vaccination is not an end in itself, and most importantly it is the immunity and immunization of citizens.
According to the Kremlin spokesman, discrimination will be inevitable, because people who had not been vaccinated pose a threat for the rest in the area.
On June 19, the head of the Ministry of Labor, Anton Kotyakov, said that if a sanitary doctor’s order on mandatory vaccination for specific groups of employees is in effect in the region, an employee who has not received immunization may be fired. At the same time, according to Kotyakov, dismissal for refusing to get vaccinated is no longer permitted under the Russian Labor Code.
Elena Andreeva, Moscow’s chief sanitary doctor, had previously advised that 60 percent of working Muscovites be vaccinated against coronavirus. Employees in commerce, transportation, medical, housing, and communal services are included. A handful of areas have also made immunization mandatory for particular groups of people.
In Russia, large-scale vaccination against coronavirus illness began on January 18. The vaccine is offered to everyone on a voluntary basis and is free of charge. Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona, and KoviVak are the four COVID-19 medicines currently registered in the nation.
