Israel to Recognise Sputnik V Vaccine

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Russians vaccinated with Sputnik V will be allowed to enter Israel starting 15 November, Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov told Sputnik. However, if Russia is included in the so-called COVID-19 red list of countries, the dates may change.

"The issue of recognition of Sputnik V by Israel was on the agenda at yesterday's meeting between the prime minister and the Ministry of Health, they approved: from November 15, the Sputnik V vaccine [certificate] will be recognized by Israel," Razvozov said, adding that it will be necessary to have a serology test done before arrival.

The minister added that the serology test requirement will be lifted once the World Health Organization (WHO) recognises the Russian vaccine.

"In the near future, a list of ‘red countries’ with a high incidence rate will be published and, accordingly, the arrival of tourists from these countries will be postponed for several weeks until the epidemiological situation in those countries improves. According to my information, Russia will be on this list," the minister added.

Earlier in the day, a source in the Israeli government told Sputnik that the country’s authorities have tentatively approved an initiative to allow entry for tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine starting from 15 November.

"During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the initiative of Tourism Minister Konstantin Razvozov on admitting tourists vaccinated with the Sputnik V vaccine to Israel was approved", the source said.

Israel closed its borders to foreign tourists in March 2020. In October, entry was allowed for tourists inoculated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm, as well as Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).