Can you buy vaccines in Istanbul and bring them back home?

As an alternative to carrying it yourself, in late July 2026 someone asked whether medicines can be bought in Turkey and sent to Russia. The reply was that it is possible, but with great caution and only through someone you trust; sending a parcel to Moscow costs about 50 US dollars, according to the person who answered.

On prices: in summer 2026 participants wrote that many European medicines have become scarce in Russia and noticeably more expensive. In one account, a medicine was about eight times cheaper in Istanbul than in Russia, and American vitamins there were 30–40% cheaper (last year's experience). In August 2026 another traveler said a medicine that is hard to get in Moscow because of supply problems cost 360 Turkish lira in Turkey, far less than at home.

In June 2026 a family planning a vaccination in Turkey said that pharmacies hand over the vaccine in a small bag with ice, because it must be stored at a specific temperature. For this reason they considered taking it to Russia tricky but doable — for example, with ice in a cooler bag. The key is to account for total travel time so the vaccine does not warm up.

On customs, in June 2026 a participant reasoned that if the medicine is permitted for import into Russia and there is, for example, a confirmed diagnosis, they saw no obstacle. They advised calling Russian customs in advance to check the allowed quantity. This is a participant's opinion, not an official ruling — check the rules before the trip.

Some travelers see Turkey as a backup if a medicine is unavailable at home: in June 2026 one participant wrote that in that case she would buy tablets and take them back. In October another noted that the medicine was not sold in tablet form in pharmacies in her region of Russia. Tablets are easier to carry than a vaccine that needs to stay cold.