Russia: Post-vaccination side effects may indicate stronger immunity to COVID-19, expert says

vaccine

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/: Side effects after vaccination against the novel coronavirus infection may indicate a stronger immunity to the disease, Prof. Nikolai Malyshev, a specialist in infectious diseases, said on Monday.

"It is believed that if a person develops any symptoms after vaccination, immunity to the disease, as a rule, will be stronger," he told a news conference.

He also noted that those who have had COVID-19 should get vaccinated not earlier than six to nine months after recovery.

According to the specialist, it would be possible to inoculate 60-70% of Russia’s population against the coronavirus infection by the end of the second half of the current year or by late summer. Most of the lockdown measures could be lifted after that, he added.

To date, 3,738,690 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 3,150,763 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 69,918 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.