 "Sputnik")
Russia has made it harder for foreign tourists to get vaccinated in the country but this hasn't deterred travel companies to promote trips with a promise of Sputnik jab.
While wealthy Indians dashed to Dubai in private jets for a Pfizer jab, tour operators have been selling leisure trips to Russia complete with sight seeing and two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
After one such travel advertisement caught attention of Russian authorities, rules were made strict to discourage vaccine tourism. From April 21, private clinics in Moscow have been prohibited from vaccinating foreign 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 8 June,” said an official of Russia Travel House, a Delhi-based outbound tour operator
Russia is one of the few destinations which is allowing entry to Indians and doesn’t have any quarantine requirement.
According to Russia Travel House's brochure, the 25-day trip will cost Rs 1.87 lakh. The package includes return air tickets between Delhi and Moscow, 20 nights' accommodation in Moscow and four nights at St Peterberg.
The executive claimed that a few polyclinics in Moscow are allowed to vaccinate foreign tourists and two doses of Sputnik jab will cost Rs 4,800. "We are giving customers option to get vaccinated but it is upto them to choose," he said.
In a statement 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 urge caution while booking such a trip saying that it can lead to financial loss. “ We have enquired with Russian authorities. Such trips for vaccination are not allowed. People only with a Russian passports are allowed to get vaccinated in Russia. These, according to me are false offers and should better be avoided,” said Nishant Pitti, co-founder and CEO at Ease My Trip- an online travel portal.
Like 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 22 day stay in Russia.
According to a Russian media report, several citizens of Germany, Brazil, Italy, Belgium and the UK received vaccines 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, the bodies suggested.
Chairman of board of Association of Private Medical Clinics and Centeds Sergei Misiulin was quoted last month 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".
Chairman of board of Association of Private Medical Clinics and Centeds Sergei Misiulin was quoted last month 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".
