Flying Abroad For The Shot! Indians Are Traveling To Russia To Get Inoculated As Vaccine Tourism Takes Off

Indians who do not want to wait for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution from their government can now explore the opportunity to get inoculated overseas, perhaps earlier than they would be able to at home.

The growing demand for vaccination amid the severe second wave of COVID-19 in the country has given rise to tour packages which let customers join the vaccination queue abroad and get vaccinated to build their immunity against the virus.

Credit: Marco Verch

The trend seems to be picking up in India for what is being known as 'vaccine tourism' and it appears Russia's capital Moscow is the preferred destination.

As per a report in Times of India, a Delhi-based travel agency has begun offering a 24-day package tours, priced at 1.3 lakh each. As part of the deal, the vaccine hopefuls will be taken to Moscow for two shots of Sputnik-V with an added incentive of sightseeing thrown in to pass the 21-day interval between jabs.

¡°The first shot is administered the very next day after arrival in Moscow,¡± an official from the travel agency told Times of India. ¡°Foreigners with a minimum seven-day stay in Russia can get vaccinated. They only need to register for vaccination, which we do for them,¡¯¡¯ he said.

Also read: Travel Company Sets Eyes On 'Vaccine Tourism,' Offers To Fly People To US For Dose For Rs 1.75 lakh

Twitter/sputnikvaccine

Sputnik-V, in a tweet on its official account on April 3, has teaser on the vaccine tourism. "Sputnik V vaccination in Russia! Who's on board?", it had posted on its account, with a photograph of people next to a plane with Sputnik written on it.

The Delhi company official said that the first batch of vaccine tourists left on May 15, a group of 30, largely doctors from Gurugram, and they have received the first shot, TOI reported.

Also read: Dr Reddy's Rolls Out Imported Sputnik V Vaccine At Rs 995, Made In India Doses To Cost Less

Travel Daily

It was said that the second batch will leave the country on May 29, and will mostly consist of Delhi-based doctors. Then other batches will follow in the month of June.

¡°The group spends three days in St Petersburg and the remaining days in Moscow. The package includes cost of air tickets on Aeroflot flights from Delhi, breakfast, dinner and a few days of local sight-seeing. The visa fee of Rs 10,000 isn¡¯t included,¡± the official added.

At present, Russia is one of the few countries that allow Indians to fly in for a vaccine vacation as it permits entry with just a negative PCR report and no requirement of quarantine on arrival.

Also read: How India's Class Divide Is Accelerating Country¡¯s COVID Vaccine Inequity