MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has opposed what some have already described as the "vaccine race," but at the same time acknowledged that politics already intervened in the process of vaccinating the world’s population.

"I do not think a vaccine race will be worthwhile. Moreover, vaccines must work everywhere, of course," he told Russian media in an interview. In his opinion, when it comes to vaccination, the world must be aware that "cooperation by different countries is essential and that it is impossible to vaccinate the people of one individual blessed country."

"People will be socializing anyway, so the virus can get into the country. Vaccination must be conducted in all countries, not only industrialized, but in weaker countries, too. This is a great problem," Medvedev stated.

He warns that if weaker countries lack access to vaccines, the problem of virus proliferation will last much longer "that we would like." "There should be no place for rivalry, there must be cooperation and reasonable exchange of information, Medvedev said, adding that each country "takes care of its own population first thing and it is absolutely normal."

Supplies of Russian vaccines

About the export of Russian vaccines to other countries Medvedev said that Russia was not imposing anything on anyone. "Our task today is to ensure there are enough effective vaccines for the population of our country. It is a priority target and I hope that it will be met, Medvedev said. He added that in the near future he would call a conference to discuss progress in the production of vaccines in the country.

"Already now one can say that we have achieved rather high production rates," Medvedev said, adding that "tens of millions of doses of each Russian vaccine must be produced by the end of the year. "This is precisely the amount that should be produced to let us feel calmly and to put the pandemic under control," Medvedev explained.

He stressed other countries’ interest in the Russian vaccines. "With a number of countries documents have been signed. The Russian Direct Investment Fund is in charge. It does this rather successfully, more agreements are being concluded," he recalled.

Asked if politics was involved in vaccines’ related issues and their registration in different countries, Medvedev said it was definitely so. "Politics is everywhere. There are pressures, unfair competition by pharmaceutical companies, the wish to contain Russia in some respects and so on and so forth," he said, adding that all this is regrettable.

"As far as the struggle against the pandemic is concerned, anything goes. If the Russian vaccine helps, it should be purchased. It’s totally wrong to put up on airs and say that we do not trust those Russians or that the vaccine has not been tested well enough. Moreover, foreign vaccines have certainly demonstrated not the very best results," Medvedev stressed.