Ukraine will not make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory – PM Shmyhal

The government is not planning the introduction of mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine, but will motivate people to get vaccinated, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

“We are not planning the introduction of mandatory vaccination because, first of all, it is forbidden in our country, but we will motivate people to get vaccinated through social advertising, various motivating factors. In particular, now we are not able to introduce compulsory vaccination for a certain person, but we can place an obligation of compulsory vaccination on the staff of the educational institution,” he said at a press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The prime minister noted that there are many examples of parent committees asking school administrations about the percentage of teachers vaccinated because parents care about their children's health.

"It's about the responsibility of people, especially teachers and doctors, to themselves, their children and teams they work in. It is better to approach from this side and call for this responsibility. I am absolutely convinced that the vast majority of people in Ukraine will approach the vaccination process in such a way,” Shmyhal said.

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