Vladimir Putin gets coronavirus vaccine behind closed doors

Russia President, Vladimir Putin received his Covid-19 vaccination  behind close doors on Tuesday according a statement released by the Kremlin.

 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media late Tuesday night, March 23: “Putin was vaccinated against the coronavirus. (He) feels good. Tomorrow he has a full working day.”

No video or images of the vaccination process have been made available. 

Earlier in the day the Kremlin said Putin’s vaccination would not be a public event.

Peskov said that the reason the vaccination was not being recorded was because Putin “doesn’t like” being vaccinated on camera, before adding, “you will have to take our word for it.”

An unusual move for a leader who sometimes poses topless and shares photos of himself fishing or hiking.

When asked why the Russian leader is not planning to show his vaccination process for publicity, Peskov said Putin does a lot to promote getting vaccinated, adding: “The President devotes a fairly significant part of his working time to events, talks, meetings related to vaccination, vaccine production, and so on and so forth.

“As for vaccination under the cameras, he has never been a supporter [of it], he doesn’t like it,” Peskov said.

Peskov also said the type of vaccine used will not be revealed.

“We deliberately do not say what kind of vaccine the president will take, all the while noting that all three Russian vaccines are absolutely reliable and effective,” Peskov said.

At first it looked like Putin seemed reluctant to get the vaccine as he has qualified for vaccination since late December.

Local media sites believe Putin’s refusal to have the vaccine on Live TV may have bungled a golden opportunity to encourage hesitant Russians to get vaccinated.