Greece Announces Covid-19 Vaccination Plan

Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias

Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said free Covid-19 vaccination would be available by appointment at 1,018 points across the country once the first effective drugs are made available.

Kikilias on Wednesday presented Greece’s vaccination plan, which is aimed at ensuring the widest possible coverage with a target of 2,117,440 people a month.

The minister said vaccination will take approximately 10 minutes and will be conducted with appointment only via SMS, online or phone booking “to ensure order”. 

First up are health professionals, including doctors and nurses, security forces as well as the elderly with pre-existing conditions followed by the general population.  

“Vaccination will be free,” said Kikilias. 

“Once the vaccines arrive in Greece, they will be distributed to 1,018 vaccination centers and then to the population. We will be able to vaccinate 2,117,440 citizens per month. There will be two shifts, six days a week, with a break on Sunday break,” the minister said.

“We estimate that every citizen needs 10 minutes to be vaccinated. 30 percent of the vaccinations will be conducted at health centers in order to decongest hospitals.” 

Kikilias clarified that though vaccination against Covid-19 will be optional, “our goal is to convince all citizens” of the importance of being protected.

“I will be the first to be vaccinated to set a good example,” he said.

In the last 24-hour period, Greece national public health organization (EODY) reported 3,209 Covid-19 positive cases and 60 related deaths bringing the country total to 1,288. 

“We are entering winter, with weather conditions that do not help. The situation in Europe is shocking. We are in better luck and better off than the vast majority of European countries,” said Kikilias, adding however that hospitalizations due to Covid have not decreased. 

To see the presentation of Greece’s vaccination plan (in Greek), press here.