Covid situation worsening in Russia as deaths pass 1,000 a day amid vaccine scepticism

A week-long lockdown has been announced in Moscow as Russia suffers from a sharp rise in cases and deaths from Covid.

The situation is worse than at any point in the pandemic, which has also seen president Vladimir Putin give a week of paid holiday around the country to stop the spread.

More than 1,000 daily deaths are being reported in Russia, the second highest in the world behind the US, and fatalities have surpassed 220,000 since the start of the pandemic.

The virus is spreading as only 32% of the country have received their vaccinations.

Vaccine scepticism

Only a third of those eligible have been fully vaccinated, compared to two-thirds in the UK.

Russians are very sceptical of domestically made jabs, with surveys showing a majority of those who have not been vaccinated have no intention of getting jabbed. 

The scepticism is somewhat surprising since the Lancet medical journal said the Sputnik V vaccine is 91.6% effective against the virus.

Authorities are trying to encourage people to take the vaccine. One measure has seen Moscow ban the unvaccinated elderly from leaving their house until February.

Other regions are making vaccination compulsory to improve take up.

Putin said: “It’s strange that well-educated people, people with advanced degrees, don’t want to get vaccinated. 

“We have a safe and effective vaccine.

“I call upon you to go out and get vaccinated. It’s a question of your life and the lives of the people close to you.”

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Lack of trust

One of the reasons behind the limited take up of vaccinations is down to people lacking faith in the political regime. 

State TV rarely mentions the case numbers or deaths in Russia, making citizens think the pandemic is not as serious as it is. 

The Russia population is becoming increasingly sceptical about what they are being told by politicians, meaning messaging to the public has had a limited impact when it comes to the need for vaccination. 

The diminished trust has allowed an easy opening for anti-vaxxers on social media to question the Russian-made vaccines. 

Unsubstantiated rumours of side effects are being spread and advising people not to drink alcohol in the aftermath of having the jab is putting potential recipients off.