PUTIN: NO MANDATORY VAX REQUIRED

While so-called “free” and “democratic” nations pushing for vaccine passports are spending billions to get the public to take the COVID shot, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his stance on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations last Wednesday that his government will not force his citizens to take the jab.  
“I want to state my position again,” Putin said, before claiming Russia’s “Sputnik V” vaccine is the safest. “I think that mandatory vaccination isn’t appropriate and can’t be introduced.”
He said it is up to the citizens to realize the need for the jab and understand that without the vaccination, they could face “serious or even mortal danger.” He said it is “counterproductive and unnecessary to introduce mandatory vaccinations.”
Russia has 144.4 million people, and 11.8 percent of its population is fully vaccinated, which amounts to 8.2 percent. Russia was the first country to approve its vaccine for public use. Putin said,
“I would like to emphasize once again and to appeal to all our citizens: think carefully, keep in mind that the Russian vaccine—the practice has really shown that millions (of people) have used it—is currently the most reliable and the safest. All conditions for vaccination have been created in our country.”
TRENDPOST: Russians have been hesitant to take the shot. Moscow, a city of 12 million, has 1.3 million vaccinated. 
“We were the first major city in the world to announce the start of mass vaccination. And what? The percentage of vaccinated people in Moscow is less than in any European city. In some cases, several times over,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.