Ukraine: here money gets you vaccinated before everyone else
Ukraine does not have its own COVID-19 vaccine. Since the country has been in a perpetual deep economic crisis since 2014, it cannot afford buying the vaccine elsewhere, and the numbers of cases and deaths are skyrocketing.
Last month, Russia offered to provide the complete technology of the manufacturing of the Sputnik V vaccine to Ukraine, so that the vaccine could be mass-produced domestically there. The Ukrainian government refused the offer despite the massive appeals from the population.
Recently, Ukrainian media have been reporting that high-level Kiev government officials and businessmen began clandestinely vaccinating with the coronavirus vaccine that had been smuggled into Ukraine. The vaccination takes place at a private clinic called Mediland in the Ukrainian capital.
The Ukrainian elite is offered the contraband vaccine at a price of euro 1,000 to 3,000. For comparison, the price of a dose in Europe is euro 15.50. All transactions are handled in cash only, and the operation is kept secret.
The clients do not receive any certification confirming the fact of vaccination, According to various sources, the vaccine was brought to Ukraine from the EU or Israel.