MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Aggravation of chronic or acute diseases in elderly is a contraindication to inoculation against the novel coronavirus infection, however, it is necessary to get vaccinated after recovery, Director of the Russian Clinical and Research Center of Gerontology of the Pirogov Medical University, chief non-resident geriatrist of the Russian Healthcare Ministry Olga Tkacheva said at a press conference on Thursday.
"The elderly should get inoculated, with a number of pathologies a shot is necessary. Indeed, if a disease is in some acute form, an acute viral infection, fever, of course, one shouldn’t get vaccinated. Or when it’s an acute stroke, an acute heart attack, or a severe cardiac decompensation, one shouldn’t get vaccinated. Of course, in case of aggravated chronic diseases or acute diseases, one shouldn’t get vaccinated precisely at this moment. One should wait for recovery and only then do it," she said.
The expert explained that it is precisely the chronic diseases that are a risk factor for a severe form of the novel coronavirus infection, and this is why the elderly should be among the first to be inoculated in order to be protected.
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center, to date, 4,027,748 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 3,538,422 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 78,687 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.