As medical workers in Russia struggle with a third wave of COVID-19 infections, many are reaching out to the public directly to share information. Some are using social media to report on shortages and crisis conditions, while others have a simple message to their fellow Russians: Get vaccinated.
In Russia's Komi region, the village of Mutny Materik -- or Muddy Continent -- stands in the swamps along the Pechora River, without paved roads or a sewer system. The town's name was recently recognized as the funniest in Russia, but locals find the conditions of life here are no laughing matter.
Amid a wave of COVID-19 infections in Russia, Moscow and other local governments have made vaccinations mandatory for workers in sectors such as retail, health care, and transportation. But some managers say their employees have quit rather than get vaccinated.
Many Russians are complaining that the COVID-19 vaccine they signed up to get was swapped for another without their knowledge. Some only found out when they asked about it. They were promised the domestically produced Sputnik V, but instead got a drug called EpiVacCorona.
From June 28, Moscow restaurants, cafes, and bars have been ordered to only serve guests who have been vaccinated, had COVID-19 within the last six months, or have had a negative PCR test within the previous three days.
Some 100,000 doses of a locally produced COVID-19 vaccine called QazVac have already been distributed in Kazakhstan -- before the publication of late-stage clinical trial data. Independent health experts say more data should have been released.
Organizers of a conference of independent Russian lawmakers have been sentenced after police broke up the event, claiming it violated new anti-COVID restrictions. The lawmakers deny they broke the rules, and say they were put in place at the last minute to stop the opposition from organizing.
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