A group of prominent Russian doctors has invited anti-vaccine celebrities and politicians to visit hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
Eleven leading doctors signed the open letter on Wednesday, calling on the public figures to see the effects of the virus firsthand.
The letter was addressed to a dozen of the loudest anti-vaccine voices that have spread doubts about coronavirus jabs on social media.
Just 37.2% of Russian adults are fully inoculated against the virus despite appeals from President Vladimir Putin.
The open letter by doctors -- published by the state-run TASS agency -- was addressed to celebrities who they say have fuelled vaccine hesitancy.
The Kremlin has welcomed the initiative and has labelled the signatories as "hero doctors".
"Let's hope that their authority will help at least some of these people to change their minds," said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. »