The head of the Gamaleya Center Gunzburg advocated compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 in Russia 
Director of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gamtsburg told how to overcome the coronavirus pandemic in Russia. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, he also explained to the Russians why it is necessary to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Conditions for defeating the pandemic
The head of the Gamaleya Center said that the coronavirus pandemic will certainly end someday. However, in order to defeat COVID-19 in Russia, one condition must be met – to make vaccination mandatory. Gunzburg supported the inclusion of this procedure in the National Vaccination Schedule.
70-75 percent of Russians should be vaccinated against the coronavirus to end the pandemic
“In order for this not to happen again, children need to be taught that they must be vaccinated, just like their parents. And, accordingly, posters should teach this, as well as the fact that you need to wash your hands, brush your teeth and say “hello” and “goodbye”, – said Gunzburg.
Why get vaccinated?
According to the scientist, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is necessary not only to defeat the pandemic, but also for the prosperous life of every citizen in society. Vaccination helps people to “be a normally perceived and full-fledged citizen” of their state. Unvaccinated people harm not only their health, but also the condition of their loved ones and everyone around them.
Being unvaccinated is just as bad as, for example, excuse me, spitting or anything else … Or walking with dirty hands
Alexander Gintsburg Director of the Gamaleya CenterMaterials on the topic00: 00 – January 27 
“It happens that vaccines do not work. Why – we do not know “100 million people in the world have become infected with the coronavirus. Can vaccines stop the pandemic? 00:01 – 7 September … How dangerous is it for Russia?
Gunzburg stressed that the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine forms an immune defense against a large number of coronavirus mutations that are now circulating. He added that the drug is highly damaging against the delta strain. This is due to the fact that other developed vaccines are adapted to previously active variants of the coronavirus and work worse in the fight against the “delta”.
At the same time, the vaccine “Light”, a derivative of “Sputnik V”, is intended for people previously vaccinated with various drugs, including Western ones. The “lightweight” version of the tool not only increases its prestige and demonstrates efficiency, but also allows domestic developments to “conquer world markets.” Gunzburg added that Sputnik V provides a wider range of neutralizing antibodies compared to Pfizer and Moderna RNA vaccines.
The Sputnik V vaccine is currently better than the existing ones that are used in the world
Alexander Gintsburg Director of the Gamaleya CenterNasal vaccine against coronavirus
The expert also revealed details about the creation of a nasal vaccine against COVID-19. The Gamaleya Center has already received permission from the Russian Ministry of Health to conduct clinical trials. Further development of the drug depends on funding: the head of the organization expressed the hope that work on the drug will be completed by mid-2022.
Gunzburg explained that the nasal vaccine creates local immunity in the nasopharynx and creates an additional barrier for the virus trying to enter the body. Habitual vaccination creates protection in the bloodstream, so the funds are “two independent barriers” and complement each other.
However, in a comment for RIA Novosti, the expert said that the question of drug interchangeability will be resolved after the study. In addition, Gunzburg announced the development of a drug from antibodies for patients with coronavirus.
Origin of the virus
The specialist also answered questions about the origin of the virus. According to him, it is impossible to establish the exact nature of COVID-19 “by any properties.” At the same time, the only way to confirm the artificial origin of the virus is to honestly confess to one of its creators, the scientist said. According to him, publications on the nature of COVID-19, allegedly based on a scientific study of existing viruses, are meaningless.
The scientist added that accurate data on the origin of the coronavirus will not help cope with the pandemic. This information can be useful “for politicians, for the opportunity to demand satisfaction from someone, to bring someone to justice.” To overcome the pandemic in a few months, it is necessary to dramatically increase the number of vaccinated daily, Gunzburg said. In particular, the proportion of vaccinated Russians needs to grow tenfold.
On November 9, mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 was introduced in St. Petersburg. The measure will affect residents of the city over 60 years old, as well as patients with chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular and endocrine systems (diabetes, obesity). These groups of people need to get the first vaccination against coronavirus by December 15.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Gunzburg the Order of Alexander Nevsky “for merits in the field of health care and many years of conscientious work.” The specialist got a job at the Gamaleya Center as a senior researcher in 1982, and has been heading the institute since 1999. In 2020, Gunzburg led the development of the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 Sputnik V.