Greece Hints Teachers Are Next in Line for Mandatory Vaccination

Greece on Tuesday hinted that school teachers may be next in line – after health workers – for mandatory vaccination against Covid-19, as new cases and deaths continue to rise.

Speaking on Skai TV, government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou said that the option of mandatory vaccination is open for more groups in Greece.

“The option of expanding mandatory vaccination is likely everywhere, not just at schools. It will depend on the pandemic numbers and on how fast the rate of vaccinations rises,” he said.

“The possibility of mandatory vaccination is there for everyone. It is there for educators if this is deemed necessary, even though vaccination rates are pretty high in that sector. It is even being examined for the church,” he added, after being asked about which professional sectors are likely to be affected.

Oikonomou also addressed rumors that vaccines may be made compulsory for children, saying that “there is no such plan at this time.”

He indicated, however, that the government is putting together a campaign to get more parents on board with the vaccination of their children, saying that pediatricians “will spearhead the effort.

“They need to get in the game of convincing people, with their knowledge, but also by getting vaccinated themselves,” he said of the doctors, adding that specific announcements will be made soon on how this will be accomplished.

As far as universities are concerned, Oikonomou said that vaccination posts will be set up outside campuses to encourage students and staff to get the shot.

Health workers given second chance for mandatory vaccination

Last week, Greece gave health workers another chance to get their shots after protests erupted over the September 1st suspensions of unvaccinated medical professionals.

The Greek government introduced an amendment to the law that they get back to work as long as they receive their first dose of the vaccine in the next few days, and follow through on their second shot afterward.

Hundreds of suspended workers protested the Greek state’s action after 6,000 healthcare professionals were suspended following a law put in place by Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

The law was announced in July that mandates all medical workers be fully vaccinated by September 1st, or else face suspension. Although the PM gave unvaccinated workers a two month period to get their shots, some still resisted becoming inoculated against COVID-19.

Greece records 47 Covid-19 deaths on Monday

On Monday Greece confirmed 1,765 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, with eight of these identified at entry points to the country.

There are also 47 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of pandemic victims to 13,933. Of these, 95.4 percent had an underlying condition and/or were aged 70 or over.

A total of 379 patients are on ventilators in hospitals. Their median age is 64 years and 82.1 percent suffer from an underlying condition and/or are aged 70 or over. Of the total patients, 343 (90.5 percent) are unvaccinated or partly vaccinated and 36 (9.5 percent) are fully vaccinated.