The pilots of the Indian airline Air India have threatened to refuse flights if they are not vaccinated against coronavirus infection. This was announced on Tuesday, May 4, by the Times of India with reference to the pilots’ union.
“We will stop flying unless Air India executives provide us with urgent coronavirus vaccinations. Without medical assistance to flight crews, without coronavirus vaccination and the provision of medical insurance, we can no longer risk our lives, ”the pilots said.
According to the publication, over the past year, the results of tests for COVID-19 of members of the majority of the airline’s flight crews were positive. Also, several pilots have died from the effects of coronavirus infection; currently, at least 10 employees are quarantined in Rome after identified cases of infection.
Indian private airlines have already announced plans to vaccinate their employees. The country’s Department of Civil Aviation has recommended that state governments include industry workers in a priority group for vaccination.
On May 2, India recorded a record number of COVID-19 cases per day, as well as a record number of deaths per day – 392 488 and 3689, respectively.
To help India cope with the disastrous situation due to the coronavirus, Russia sent humanitarian aid to the country. On April 28-29, two flights of the Ministry of Emergency Situations delivered to New Delhi more than 22 tons of cargo, including dozens of devices for generating oxygen, ventilators, medical monitors and medicines.
On May 1, the first batch of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was delivered to India. The drug will be sent for regulatory approval and then redistributed for vaccination.
On April 28, RDIF agreed to produce 850 million doses of the vaccine in India.