Peskov explained his refusal to get a flu shot by medical contraindications

Peskov explained his contraindications

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said he did not get a flu shot due to medical contraindications. In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin for the Vesti information service, he said: “No, I did not get one, I have contraindications,” adding that otherwise he would certainly have been vaccinated. According to him, vaccination significantly reduces the risk of illness and, if one does fall ill, makes the course of the disease milder. Peskov did not specify exactly what health problems prevent him from getting vaccinated. This was reported by Life.ru and Gazeta.Ru citing RIA Novosti.

Context: Putin's vaccination and the flu season

Peskov's statement came against the backdrop of reports about vaccination among the country's leadership. On November 5, Vladimir Putin said, that about two weeks earlier he had been vaccinated against flu with a domestic vaccine, described its effect as normal, and called on members of the government to follow his example, instructing Health Minister Mikhail Murashko to work out the issue of immunizing the ministers. The president also noted that after the shot he continued exercising in his usual routine.

When to get vaccinated

Against the backdrop of these statements, experts are reminding people about vaccination timing. Lyubov Semeikina, head of the epidemiology department of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Primorsky Krai, said, that November is the optimal time for a flu shot: the body has time to develop immunity by the start of the epidemic season. According to her, after the vaccine is administered, it takes from 10–14 days to two to four weeks for full protection to develop.