Plans to ease Belarus-Russia travel restrictions as vaccination gains traction
15:30, 2 April
As the vaccination is delivered to wider population in Belarus and Russia, travel restrictions between the two countries might be fully removed, Belarus' First Deputy Healthcare Minister Yelena Bogdan told reporters during the solemn meeting “The Union State: New opportunities” held via videoconferencing, BelTA has learned.
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“The public health watchdogs of Belarus and Russia are keeping in touch with each other. These matters are discussed weekly. As the vaccination is delivered to wider population in Belarus and Russia, travel restrictions between the two countries might be fully removed. Today it is possible to enter Russia upon presenting a negative test result,” Yelena Bogdan said.
She added that Belmedpreparaty started producing Russia's Sputnik V vaccine last week. “This batch was sent for quality control to the Gamaleya center where it was developed. In April the vaccination will be rolled out to the general public,” Yelena Bogdan said.
She noted that the vaccine will be used to meet the domestic needs, first of all, but in the future it may be exported. “This is the first stage of localization. In addition, at the moment our Russian partners and us are upgrading production lines to enable the full-cycle production of the vaccine. When we meet our own needs, it is absolutely possible to ship the vaccine to other markets,” the first deputy minister said.
As for now, the Sputnik V vaccine is to be made only at Belmedpreparaty, because the production itself requires certain technical conditions, and most importantly, adequate skills and competencies.
On 2 April, the Palace of the Republic in Minsk is hosting the solemn meeting “The Union State: New opportunities” to mark the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia. The event has brought together heads of government authorities, the Union State Standing Committee and its office in Minsk, public associations, and other organizations. Participants from Moscow have joined the event via videoconferencing.
