Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko did not exclude that Ukraine is likely to introduce mandatory vaccination against coronavirus.
“I admit,” Liashko replied, answering the host’s question: “Do you admit compulsory vaccination?” on the air of the Freedom of Speech (Svoboda Slova) program on Monday.
The Minister said that currently in Ukraine vaccination is voluntary, but the government does not rule out some changes.
“Today, vaccination is free and voluntary. The question of the possibility of introducing certain categories of professions into the decreed ones is also being considered. This is a contingent that can come to work after a full course of vaccination against certain infectious diseases. Such options are being considered, but we have taken the experience of the EU and the U.S.: when restrictions are introduced, but they do not apply to vaccinated people,” Liashko said. In addition, the Minister allowed the possibility of vaccination among adolescents from 12 years of age.
“We expect and will launch a mass vaccination campaign among adolescents aged 12 and older. It’s time for everything,” he said.
According to him, priority will be given to people over 60, as 82% of all deaths are in this category.
All foreigners and stateless persons who stay in Ukraine on a legal basis can be vaccinated against COVID-19 following the same procedure as Ukrainian citizens, the Ministry of Health said on Facebook.
According to the report, foreigners and stateless persons who permanently reside in Ukraine, as well as refugees or persons in need of additional protection, have the right to free vaccination. They can book their vaccinations online at the nearest location or vaccination center.
At the same time, for foreigners and stateless persons who temporarily stay on the territory of Ukraine, medical services should be covered at their own expense, voluntary medical insurance funds or from other sources not prohibited by law. The COVID-19 vaccine itself is free of charge.
All foreigners and stateless persons can obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine.
As of Monday morning, 417 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Ukraine, with 248 people reported as recovered, while 14 people died, the press service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine said.
“During the day on August 15, 2021, some 417 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease COVID-19 were recorded in Ukraine (of which there are 31 children and 10 health workers). Also, over the past day: 433 people were hospitalized, 14 people died, and 248 people recovered,” said the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on the Telegram channel.
During the day on August 8, some 51,445 people were vaccinated against coronavirus in Ukraine, while 30,988 Ukrainians received the first vaccination, another 20,457 completed the immunization process, having received both doses of the vaccine, the press service of the Ministry of Health reports on the Telegram channel on Monday.
“Some 277 mobile teams, 816 vaccination points, 340 vaccination centers worked during the day,” the message says.
The information says that since the beginning of the vaccination campaign in Ukraine, 4,137,073 people have been vaccinated, of which 4,137,071 people received one dose, 2,401,647 people received two doses and are fully immunized.
“A total of 6,538,718 vaccinations were carried out,” the Ministry of Health said.
Vaccination against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease reduces the risk of hospitalization and severe disease by 15 times, according to the website of the Ministry of Health.
According to a report citing preliminary data from the analysis of COVID-19 cases in Ukraine over the past three months, only 0.7% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 were fully vaccinated, and 0.4% of those hospitalized were fully vaccinated.
The risk of getting sick among unvaccinated people is almost 8.5 times higher, and the risk of being hospitalized is almost 15 times.
The Ministry of Health notes that these are preliminary data, and they do not take into account asymptomatic diseases, as well as those cases in which patients did not do tests and did not seek medical help. However, statistics shows that all vaccines used by Ukraine effectively prevent severe disease.
Some 33% of Ukrainians already have immunity to the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said.
“I can say the preliminary results of a sociological study conducted in our country. The results indicate that 33% of the population already has immunity to COVID-19,” Danilov said at a briefing following the NSDC meeting on Friday, July 16.
“In addition, with regard to vaccinated people, we believe that 38-40% of people in our country are already immunized,” he said.
According to Danilov, “this is not a reason for us not to comply with the restrictive measures proposed by doctors.”
“Moreover, I want to ask everyone to speed up vaccination as soon as possible. We believe that everyone will be vaccinated in the near future. This is very important, because, having the herd immunity of our citizens, this will be a preventive measure against morbidity,” he said.
