As Moscow gets tougher on Covid, some Russians buy fake proof of shots

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A black market in fake vaccination certificates is thriving in Russia after Moscow city authorities ordered all public-facing workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Adverts for illegal false certificates are easily found on the Telegram messenger app, targeting unvaccinated Russians who want to avoid shots but keep their jobs. Prices are rising fast and demand appears to be growing.

Moscow and several Russian regions have resorted to tough measures to encourage people to get vaccinated because of a new rise in coronavirus infections blamed by the Kremlin on the more infectious Delta variant.

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Sputnik V vaccine at a vaccination centre in Depo food mall in Moscow, Russia, June 17. — Reuters
A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Sputnik V vaccine at a vaccination centre in Depo food mall in Moscow, Russia, June 17. — Reuters

Read the full Reuters story here.

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