Golikova: "St. Petersburg is close to achieving collective immunity"

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova named St. Petersburg among the regions that are close to achieving herd immunity to CORONAVIRUS infection ( covid-19 ). The official said this at a meeting of President Vladimir Putin with the government of the Russian Federation.

herd immunity

“The closest to achieving herd immunity, or 60%, taking into account the vaccinated and recovered, 17 regions of the country. These are Moscow, St. Petersburg, the republics of Tuva, Karelia, Buryatia, Kalmykia, Altai, Yakutia, Komi, Moscow, Belgorod, Sakhalin, Magadan, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk regions, Chukotka and Yamalo-Nenets autonomous districts, ”said Golikova (quoted from website of the President of the Russian Federation).

According to her, the government has set the task for all regions to increase the pace of vaccination. “We have determined that we must move towards achieving herd immunity of at least 80%.” We set such a task of vaccinating at least the first component by November 1, 2021, bearing in mind, among other things, the need for re-vaccination and vaccination of those who have been ill after six months have passed,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.

According to preliminary plans, more than 67 million vaccine kits and doses will be put into civilian circulation in July-September, including 12.7 million in the last ten days of July, 24.3 million in August and almost 30 million in September. “These volumes will allow us to vaccinate those who have not been vaccinated, as well as to ensure re-vaccination of those who have had more than six months since the first vaccination or illness,” said Golikova.

Do I need to re-vaccinate?

The official also touched upon the topic of re-vaccination. “I want to clarify once again that according to the available studies, a stable immune response in people who have been ill with coronavirus or vaccinated lasts an average of six months, by 9-12 months the protection gradually weakens. Therefore, during the period of the epidemic rise in the incidence, in which we are now, the World HEALTH Organization recommends vaccination after six months. This applies to both those who have been ill and those who have previously been vaccinated. After achieving herd immunity in the absence of an epidemic rise in the incidence, you can switch to vaccination once every 12 months. Most European countries are now following the same tactics and are making appropriate decisions,” she added.