© AFP / Natalia KOLESNIKOVA
The Kremlin has said it's up to local leaders to find ways to boost coronavirus vaccine uptake, after one Russian region threatened to withhold road repairs from areas with low levels of immunization amid a sharp spike in deaths.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov told journalists that, while he wouldn't comment on specifics, the Russian government will support any move to encourage people to go and get jabbed in an effort to try and curb the rising coronavirus infections across the country.
"All methods to push people toward understanding the necessity of vaccination are good," he said. "Indeed, all measures are good.
Each region enjoys the authority to impose its own measures," also stressing that people should understand the need for the vaccination.
The Kremlin official was speaking in response to questions over comments made by Roman Starovoit, the governor of the Kursk Region, threatening to halt road repairs in districts with low levels of uptake of Covid-19 vaccines. In some areas of the district, fewer than 55% of people have been immunized, and the governor has said he will take steps to ensure more people get the shot. "We need to get involved in the work and explain the need for vaccination," Starovoit said.
The move coincides with an increasing number of coronavirus infections reported in Russia and more than 900 people dying daily from the virus over the past two days. On Wednesday, the country's official statistics reported that 929 people had passed away, the highest number since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. On Thursday, the figure dipped slightly, with 924 people dying from Covid-19 and 27,550 new cases recorded - a rise from 25,133 a day earlier.
There have been a number of different measures taken across the regions in an attempt to boost the vaccine rollout. In June, Moscow said that free cars would be given away in prize draws to vaccinated residents. Then, in August, a lottery amongst those who have had the shot was announced, with immunized citizens in the running to win 100,000 rubles (about $1,378). The city also recently extended its handout of the 'Taking Care of Health' kits, which include vitamins, blood pressure monitors, and cosmetics that are available to people who take the vaccine.Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said this week that around 47.4 million people have received their first vaccine dose, and 42.2 million have had both shots. However, she added that vaccine uptake needs to be higher in order to achieve herd immunity.
Peskov said in September that there are currently "no discussions" in the Kremlin about the prospect of another national lockdown and, on Wednesday, despite the recent statistics, he said that shutting down the country remains an "undesirable scenario."
Reader Comments
Looks like RT aligns themselves these days and receives support from groups who support American MSM = The Davos Crowd. They're trying to Build Back Better news = regurgitated brainwashed "Get the Vaxx" vomit. RT...the Russian source. A different viewpoint on the world? An alternative source of news? Nah. RT the"alternative news" counter op. Let me brainwash you with a new Russian hypersonic missile, AI-enabled soldiers, or versatile tanks which climb trees along the way so I look really Russian.
I must admit their sports section is entertaining. Always some athlete somewhere doing something rash. I do delight in Pettiness Personified, and athletes seem particularly gifted in this capacity.
A link for the O'Looney interview. [Link]
I have some experience in the funeral industry and so took an interest in his first video out of curiosity.
I find his opinions quite realistic, saddening, maddening and down-right scary but I will be looking to him for further updates, for as long as he can make them. He is one of those canaries in the coal mine and when he is 'disappeared' then I'll know it's time to make some changes myself.
You have to be prepared to die. "It seems to me that on the path to attain Buddhahood it may invariably be when one has done something like lay down one's life that one becomes a Buddha." When I began practicing Buddhism, I was walking a tightrope. I was experiencing a situation in which, OOH, I felt responsible and empathetic for a suffering individual, but OTOH, by allowing myself to remain near him, I was in danger of being killed. Since similar situations had reoccurred with frequency since my childhood, I wanted to end the karma--exit the loop. I did so when I decided that I would die first before continuing my life in that manner. I didn't become a Buddha, but the situation "disappeared," at a fairly rapid momentum, moment by moment from my life until I was free from that situation and, furthermore, free from needing or initiating those encounters. Freedom exists within.
John may have to come to similar moment. Maybe not. We're all different. I chant for his good health, safety, and mental focus.
I thought Putin's Russia was less insane than the rest of the world.
I wonder what's going on here.
"In Russia there are only two kind of problems: idiots and the roads."