Tel Aviv, Jan 30 (Agency) Israel has started accepting results of antibody serological tests carried out by the Russian private medical company Invitro for the entry of tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V and Sputnik Light boosters, the Israeli Health Ministry said on Sunday. According to a ministry’s statement, those who received booster doses of Sputnik V or Sputnik Light will be recognized as vaccinated against Covid-19 after downloading Invitro’s certificate of positive serological test results to a declaration form for entry. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism told Sputnik that the list of Russian laboratories, analyzes of which are accepted by Tel Aviv, can be expanded soon.
“Currently, several more laboratories are being considered, please note that Invitro has many affiliates throughout Russia,” the ministry said. According to the health ministry, if Russian tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V and Sputnik Light do not have any proof of antibodies, they will be required to undergo a serological test upon their arrival in Israel. Israel had been closed to tourists since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, 2020. On November 1, 2021, Tel Aviv allowed entry to foreigners vaccinated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, including Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Sinopharm, Sinovac. The issue of allowing Russian tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V and Sputnik Light to enter Israel was discussed by the relevant ministries since October 2021.