How vaccine tours to Europe are arranged for Russians | Russia and Russians: A View from Europe | Dw
Uncertainty about the recognition of “Sputnik V” in the West complicates the life of many Russians. Moreover, avid tourists are not the most affected side. Many Russian citizens have to travel abroad, for example, for work or to visit relatives. Without a European certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 in some EU countries, it is impossible to dine in a cafe and check into a hotel.
DW found out what opportunities are provided to such Russians by tour operators, and where you can get an injection for free.
Serbia is the most popular among tourists from Russia
Back in April, DW told how tourists from Europe went to Russia to get vaccinated. The use of vaccination to ensure safe use to ensure safe use to ensure safe use in a professional setting. In Russia, the vaccine was freely available, and there were no queues for it. By September, the situation had changed to the opposite: the demand for vaccine tours to Russia fell, and the Russians themselves became interested in traveling to Europe for the coveted injection.
“In September, regular clients of some travel companies realized that the approval of Sputnik V was being delayed. Along with such foreign trips, travel companies decided to organize vaccinations in countries where vaccination of foreigners is possible.
Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine
Now a Russian tourist can take root without obstacles only in three European countries. Serbia is in first place, followed by Croatia and Greece. It was Serbia that was ahead due to its accessibility: no visa is needed, and the vaccine itself is free. And they actively travel to Croatia for a single-component vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, although they require a visa in this country.
If in September tour operators organized 10-20 vaccine tours a month, by the end of October they will receive 10-20 applications a day. Demand will not subside until Sputnik V is recognized by WHO or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Lomidze predicts.
How Russians get vaccinated in Germany
“Whoever puts a vaccine approved by WHO or EU countries gets quite a lot – the opportunity to enter European countries,” says Yvette Verdian, a representative of the BSI Group, explaining the popularity of the tours. children, others fly on business trips … (In Germany, the test is valid only for 24 hours. – Ed.)
Stuttgart Coronavirus Testing Center
BSI Group offers Russians and travel to Germany with the help of getting vaccinated. But this is the most expensive and difficult to obtain option. Maya Lomidze says it will cost € 500-800 there. In addition, you will have to pay to the translator (in BSI Group this service costs 60 euros). And the prices for accommodation and other services in Germany are higher than in Serbia or Croatia.
Vaccination of foreigners in Germany is not officially approved, although in some cases they do not even ask for a passport before vaccination, add to the “Chaika-Tour” company. “Any tourist product for those wishing to be vaccinated in Germany, since vaccination is not a basis for entering the country,” the travel agency said and added that “people decide such issues when they have an opportunity.”
“Get vaccinated to make it easier to move around the world”
For example, the Muscovite David Afanasiadi took root with an “opportunity”. The young man said that he flew to a business meeting in Monaco. The way to Monaco lies through Nice airport, so he spent a significant part of his time in this French city. From the documents, David had a tourist visa (left from pre-coronavirus times) and a business invitation.
Although by the time of the trip the Muscovite already had a valid certificate of vaccination with “Sputnik V”, he was not abandoned by the desire to be vaccinated with a vaccine recognized in Europe. “I’m not a doctor,” David explains. “I wanted to be vaccinated with a recognized drug to make it easier to move around the world.”
Coronavirus vaccination center in France
A local friend helped him to submit an application on the site, and almost immediately they went to the vaccination center. David admits that without a person who speaks French well, he would not have been able to get vaccinated in Nice: filling out a questionnaire and communicating with a doctor requires a good knowledge of the language.
Thanks to a friend, David still managed to get a European vaccination certificate. According to him, those who show a local doctor Sputnik’s certificate from the State Service website are presented with only one injection with only one BionTech / Pfizer component.
Booster dose in Venice
Doctor Zaur Mugutdinov from St. Petersburg came to Austria for a short-term internship. In Russia, he had already received both components of Sputnik V (the second was in June), but in Austria it did not matter. After some deliberation, he decided to take the Janssen vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. Two factors will play in favor of this particular drug: it is one-component, and the period of action of the green pass comes faster.
Most cafes in Germany can only be accessed with a vaccination certificate or a certificate of a previous illness.
“This saved me a lot of money on PCR and antigen tests,” says Zaur. “The situation is not easy now, even within the Schengen area there are taxis at the borders that check QR codes.
After being vaccinated in one of the shopping centers in Vienna, Zaur began to travel every weekend; in discussions about vaccinations in Russian social networks, he convinces fellow citizens to get vaccinated. “Anti-vaccination movements are everywhere, but only here it has become mainstream,” says a resident of St. Petersburg.
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