Vaccination: list "obligatory" expanded

It is expected that after September 20, the government will decide to expand the list of citizens subject to compulsory vaccination.

Yesterday the bell rang again for thousands of students, and with it the “clock” began to count down. Next Monday, September 20, when the first conclusions about the scale of the spread of coronavirus in schools are made, the following decisions on mandatory vaccination are expected to be made.

The government and scientists are waiting for the epidemiological picture, which will emerge in a week, to outline the next steps.

Should the virus explode in schools, the final decision remains to vaccinate the remaining 10% of teachers who have not done so before.

The percentage may sound small, but in absolute terms it is not negligible, according to sources at the Ministry of Education.

At the same time, it is expected that the information campaign targeting parents will be expanded to persuade them to vaccinate their children over 12 years of age.

Data from tests conducted from September 6-13 show how vulnerable unvaccinated children are to the Delta mutation. 3194 cases were registered in just 1 week in children aged 12 to 17 years, i.e. among high school students, even before the start of the educational process.

According to official figures presented by Health Minister Thanos Pleuris in an interview with Alpha TV, the vaccination rate among children from 12 to 15 years old is 13%, and among children from 15 to 17 years old – just over 20%, which is a rather small percentage that demonstrates the need for the direct participation of pediatricians in the vaccination course.

“We want schools to remain open,” the prime minister said.

Health officials insist on the introduction of mandatory vaccination in medical institutions if the epidemiological picture in the country becomes “explosive”.

The percentage of healthcare workers vaccinated from the date of the law until today has increased to 94% from 80% earlier.

There are currently about 3,000 nurses and about 600 doctors in the national health system who have not been vaccinated and have been suspended from work, according to Mr Pleuris.

“Every day from 100 to 150 medical workers come for vaccination. But this is the last chance, there is no other. As a doctor has the right not to be vaccinated, so the patient has the right to be examined by a vaccinated doctor, ”the Minister of Health warned.

In addition, as noted, no later than the end of September, the government will make a final decision on expanding the groups of people who will need compulsory vaccination.

With the pandemic still severe, the authorities’ plan is to mandate vaccinations for members of the security and military forces, and then for government officials and priests, by mid-October. And in early November, make vaccination mandatory for all entertainment and delivery workers.

Compulsory vaccination is also provided for people over 60 years of age.

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