Russia vaccine tours continue despite stricter regulations
Russia’s decision to tighten vaccination norms for foreign tourists has not deterred travel companies from offering packages that promise to get visitors two doses of Sputnik V jabs.
Russian authorities prohibited private clinics in Moscow from inoculating foreign tourists from April 21. The reason: They caught wind of a travel advertisement that promised vaccinations for tourists.
Travel companies, however, are going ahead with their planned trips. “We are promoting and selling this as an outbound leisure tour. On the tour, there will be an opportunity for vaccination with a dose of Sputnik. The next trip with 20 people will begin on June 8,” said an official of Russia Travel House, a Delhi-based outbound tour operator.
Russia is one of the few destinations that is allowing Indians entry and doesn’t have any quarantine requirement.
According to Russia Travel House’s brochure, the 25-day trip costs ~1.87 lakh. The package includes return air tickets to Delhi, 20-nights’ accommodation in Moscow, and fournight’ stay in St Petersburg.
The executive claimed that a few polyclinics in Moscow are allowed to vaccinate foreign tourists and two doses of Sputnik jab will cost ~4,800. “We are giving customers the option to get vaccinated, but it is up to them to choose,” he said.
In a statement, the Consulate General of Russia in Mumbai said: “Currently, the Russian governmental vaccination programme covers Russian citizens and foreign citizens holding Russian residence permits only. Thus, foreign tourists visiting the Russian Federation are not eligible for the said vaccination programme — there is no legal framework as well as practical strategies for vaccine tours so far.”
“In terms of relations between individuals and licensed private medical institutions, in Russia they are governed by respective commercial agreements. Visitors should bear in mind that medical services provided by private clinics may be used at travellers’ own discretion,” it added.
Other travel companies, however, cautioned that such a trip could lead to financial loss. “We have enquired with Russian authorities. Such trips for vaccination are not allowed. Only people with Russian passports are allowed to get vaccinated. These, according to me, are false offers and should be avoided,” said Nishant Pitti, co-founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip, an online travel portal.
Like in India, Russian vaccine tours have been promoted in Europe too. In April, a Norwegian travel company was offering its customers options to get vaccinated at an airport or clinic in Moscow. Other packages included a visit to Turkey in addition to the 22-day stay in Russia.
According to a Russian media report several citizens of Germany, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, and the UK received jabs at a shopping centre in Moscow in March. Trade bodies in Russia, including associations representing hotels and shopping centres, also mooted visa-free entry for foreigners seeking vaccines. This would help economic recovery, they suggested.
The chairman of board of Association of Private Medical Clinics and Centers, Sergei Misiulin, was quoted as saying: “In Russia, you can vaccinate only those foreign citizens who have a residence or work permit and accordingly a compulsory medical insurance policy.”