YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Most of the people getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in Armenia’s mobile vaccination site located in the Republic Square are tourists.

Astine Poghosyan, a doctor-immunologist of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told ARMENPRESS that mainly Russian tourists visit the mobile vaccination sites.

“We work every day of the week and have an average of 40-50 visitors daily. Most of the people getting vaccinated are Russian citizens. But also Iranians visit us. There are visitors who are being vaccinated for the first time, and there are others who receive their booster shots. Russian citizens mostly get booster shots”, Astine Poghosyan said.

Vaccination against COVID-19 in Armenia is also free of charge for tourists. Filipina Anna Grace Belodio visited Armenia as a tourist. She is visiting Armenia for already the second time. She got very impressed after the first visit and had a big desire to visit again to continue discovering the country and also using the opportunity to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

“This is my first vaccination against coronavirus. Before that I wanted to see the advantages and the disadvantages of vaccines. Now I am convinced that everything is all right and I decided to get vaccinated. It’s very important that your country provides tourists with such an opportunity”, Anna Grace Belodio said.

Russian tourist Olga Samolyova has also used the opportunity of free vaccination in Armenia. She decided to get the booster shot.

“We have arrived here as a tourist. I got vaccinated in Russia with Sputnik V and I decided to get the booster shot here, in Armenia, but with another vaccine so that I can visit countries which do not recognize the Russian vaccine”, she said.

Olga Samolyova says from the very beginning she supported getting vaccinated. She praised the fact that tourists have this opportunity in Armenia.

“This is a wonderful opportunity. I am grateful to Armenia that there is such an opportunity and is free of charge. I would like to note that queue is moving very fast, the medical staff is operating amazingly, therefore, I can only express words of gratitude”, she stated.

The mobile vaccination site operates 7 days a week, from 11:00 to 19:00. Given the fact that the coronavirus cases are growing in Armenia, Astine Poghosyan urges to be active, take care of health and get vaccinated.

Reporting by Anna Gziryan

Photos by Hayk Manukyan