In the Republic of San Marino, tourists can book a “vaccination holiday” from Monday onwards.
As Roberto Ciavatta, health minister of the dwarf republic near the Italian Adriatic seaside resort of Rimini, announced on Thursday, the visitors are to be given two doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V every three weeks.
Matthias Rüb
Political correspondent for Italy, the Vatican, Albania and Malta based in Rome.
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The approximately 33,000 inhabitants of the enclave have been almost completely vaccinated with the Russian vaccine since the end of February, so that no new infections with the Sars-COV2 virus have recently been registered in the enclave. The surplus vaccine from Russia is now to be administered to "Sammarinesi" living abroad and to tourists.
San Marino is not a member of the EU, although the euro is used there as a means of payment. In February, the health authorities of the republic approved the use of the Russian vaccine, which is not yet approved in the EU, in an urgent procedure.
Tourists on “vaccination vacation” in San Marino can get the two Sputnik-V cans for a total of 50 euros. In addition, after the first and the second vaccination appointment, they each have to book three nights in the dwarf republic. The appointment for the first booking must be booked at least seven days in advance. The second vaccination appointment takes place 21 days after the first. With the offer of the “vaccination leave”, the republic also wants to stimulate tourism. Although there are many inquiries from the surrounding Italian cities and municipalities, Italians will not be able to get vaccinated in San Marino in the future either because the Russian vaccine is not yet approved in Italy or in the entire EU. For its part, the government in Rome hopes to be able to use the Russian vaccine in Italy in the second half of the year after the approvals are due.