Roszdravnadzor to report antivaxxers, including medics, to investigative bodies

MOSCOW. Nov 24 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor) has ordered its territorial bodies to look on social networks and in mass media for false information on the harm of coronavirus vaccination and report people who disseminate it, including healthcare workers, to investigative bodies and prosecutors, the agency's press service said on Wednesday.

"The Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare has ordered the territorial bodies of Roszdravnadzor to report to prosecutors and investigative bodies any information they detect on people, including healthcare workers, who actively disseminate information on the harm of vaccination against the novel coronavirus infection they know to be false and whose activities have indications of violations of law that carry liability under Articles 207.1 and 207.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Information is collected by monitoring regional mass media and social networks," Roszdravnadzor said in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, doctors from leading Russian hospitals treating coronavirus patients, including Denis Protsenko, chief doctor of City Clinical Hospital 40 in Kommunarka, published an open letter in which they invited prominent vaccination opponents to visit "red zones," intensive care units and autopsy departments of their medical establishments.

"We know your position on the vaccination of Russian citizens against Covid-19. We are all a little occupied now, and you probably know with what. However, bearing in mind how many people read you, listen to you and heed what you say, we will find the time to take you to the red zones, intensive care units and autopsy departments of our hospitals. Maybe after that, you will change your mind and fewer people will die. We are waiting for you," the doctors said in their letter, which was obtained by Interfax.