MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – We have received more than 130 applications from foreign nationals for vaccination against COVID-19 in Belarus, Veronika Vysotskaya, the head of the immunoprophylaxis department at the National Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, told reporters, BelTA reports.
“For the time being, the operator of the information system, which processes incoming applications, has already received more than 130 applications from foreign citizens. Mainly these are residents of Ukraine and Lithuania. Citizens of Latvia and Estonia have also applied. There are applications from citizens of the Netherlands and Germany. We expect the first visitors on 16 July. Their applications have been confirmed," Veronika Vysotskaya said.
Belarus has designated 55 healthcare facilities to carry out vaccination of foreign citizens in all regions of the country. Foreigners can indicate the city where they want to get the vaccine in the application form. Foreign nationals will be vaccinated with the combined vector jab Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V).
In accordance with the president's decree No. 251 of 1 July 2021, Belarus has waived visa requirements for nationals of 73 countries traveling to Belarus for vaccination purposes for five days since 15 July 2021. Foreign citizens seeking vaccination in Belarus need to register online with https://vaccination.by/form/index.html. Before crossing the Belarusian border, foreign arrivals are required to present a valid travel document and an original or a copy of a medical certificate proving that the arrival has tested negative for COVID-19. The PCR test must be performed no earlier than three days before the arrival at the Belarusian border, Veronika Vysotskaya said.
The visa-free entry for foreign national seeking vaccination will be valid until the end of 2022.
“When a foreign citizen enters the country without a visa, they have the right to stay in our country for not more than five days from the moment of crossing the border. They will have to apply for vaccination in the information system every time. To get the second jab, they will need to re-apply," Veronika Vysotskaya said when asked whether a foreigner can stay in Belarus to wait for the second jab.
She also noted that the Healthcare Ministry, in cooperation with the State Border Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has worked out a mechanism for learning the reasons in case a citizen who has signed up for vaccination fails to show up for vaccination. "There may be objective reasons for this situation. But if these reasons are not confirmed, then this person will not be able to re-register with the information system,” she said.
