Pfizer vs. Sputnik V: Russian vaccine tourism grows due to approval issues

Russian travel agencies sell tour packages for Russians to receive Vaccines against covid-19 out of the country, amid the frustration of some Russians because their vaccines of domestic production have not been internationally approved.

Russia did not record any vaccine of foreign manufacture for your use. It has approved four vaccines produced in the country, including the Sputnik V of two doses. None of the vaccines Russia is approved by the World Health Organization Yeah Unin Europea.

The WHO suspended its approval process for Sputnik V until a factory that has failed a good practice inspection is visited again, the company said. Pan American Health Organization September 15.

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The demand for Russia of trips that allow people to receive foreign vaccines approved by the WHO it has increased since that announcement last week, said Maya Lomidze, director of the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR).

Most trips, which cost between € 600 and € 850, are made at Serbia, and a company offered Germany as a destination. They allow clients to receive one of four different vaccines, including one developed with PfizerATOR said in a statement.

If travelers choose a two-dose vaccine, they must book two trips.

Anna Filatovskaya, public relations director of Russian Express, a travel agency that offers such tours, said customers choose Pfizer with more frequency.

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“We started selling these tours about two weeks ago. There were around 20 requests at that time,” he said.

Demand soared on Wednesday after local media reported travel availability, he said. “It sparked wild demand,” he told Reuters. He said 17 people had requested a vaccination trip on Wednesday.

Ivetta Verdiyan, advertising manager for another travel agency, said her trips were mostly used Russians traveling for business or whose children study abroad.

Mara, a resident of Mosque, said he traveled overseas this summer to get the vaccine, although he did not use any of those tours.

“Confo and Sputnik, but it is not recognized outside Russia. The rules for world travel mean that I need an international certificate to travel for work, ”he said, declining to give his last name.