meaning at least 2.1-2.4 million of them will need to be vaccinated by the deadlines.
Moscow has so far administered first doses to some 2 million
residents out of its official population of 12.7 million. It is not known how many service sector workers had already been vaccinated before the new rules came into force.
What happens if workers refuse?
Russia’s leaders have said the campaign is not “forced vaccination,” and that Russians still have the right to refuse to be vaccinated. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that there was no “de facto or de jure” mandatory vaccination in Russia