The Government of Moscow has said Luzhniki Stadium is now operating as one of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination centres after capacity was substantially increased.
The complex housing Russia’s national stadium has been operating a vaccination point for Russian citizens at its Water Sports Palace since June 17. However, new facilities have now opened targeting foreign citizens and migrants.
Russia is currently charging non-Russian citizens 1,300 rubles (£13/€15/$18) for COVID-19 jabs, with new clinics being opened under the Luzhniki Stadium’s stands in sectors C and D, along with in the fan zone and the complex’s skating centre. These vaccination points will operate on a daily basis from 10am to 10pm.
Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said: “Just recently, we tested the vaccination of migrants, opening two vaccination points in Sakharov and Sadovod with a total capacity of about 4,000 people a day.
“This turned out to be extremely small, the service is in great demand. Therefore, we are opening not even a point, it is difficult to call it a point, but a vaccination centre. I think one of the largest in the world.
“Its total capacity is about 15,000 people a day, which is about two and a half times more than the one that we opened in Gostiny Dvor.”
Sobyanin added: “Most of the migrants will be vaccinated here, but by and large, no willing Muscovites who come here for vaccination will be denied. If earlier we vaccinated migrants only in an organised way, through enterprises and organisations, today we invite everyone to this wonderful centre, where there is an opportunity to pay for the vaccine, if they are migrants, as well as undergo an initial examination by a doctor and get vaccinated.”
Russia today (Friday) reported 25,766 new COVID-19 cases and 726 deaths as it fights against the surging Delta variant. In total, Russia has confirmed 5,733,218 cases and 141,501 deaths.
Late last month, Moscow launched what is said to be one of the world’s most ambitious vaccination programmes, requiring 60% of the capital’s service sector workers, more than two million people, to be fully vaccinated within seven weeks.
Image: Government of Moscow
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