San Marino offers Sputnik V vaccine to tourists for 50 euros

Rome, May 17 (EFE).- The Republic of San Marino has taken tourism vaccination to the next level. From Monday, foreign tourists can buy two doses of Russian Sputnik V vaccine for 50 euros in return for booking a minimum of six nights in a tourist accommodation.

The “vaccine tourism” programme registered “thousands of applications” during its first day in operation, San Marino government sources told Efe.

Any healthy 18-84 year old is eligible, excluding people residing in Italy.

The full vaccination process with the Sputnik V vaccine —still under rolling review for EU authorization— will be charged 50 euros, to be paid in advance before the first dose.

Proof of vaccination will be handed to vaccinated tourists after the second jab, along with a first-dose certificate after the first round.

San Marino’s offer is open to everyone except residents of Italy, because “there is no specific agreement with Rome,” according to the microstate’s government.

About 14,000 Sammarinese are fully vaccinated with Sputnik V, while 22,000 have received their first dose, said Health Minister Roberto Ciavatta.

There are currently no hospitalized Covid-19 patients in San Marino, he added.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which manages commercialization of the Russian vaccine, described Sammarinese as “courageous with vaccine policy” and pointed at San Marino as evidence of Sputnik’s success.

The San Marino government started its vaccination campaign with Sputnik V in February, following Italy’s failure to provide San Marino with one for every 1,700 vaccines received, as agreed on January 11.