COVID-19 vaccinations will begin at the end of December in five hospitals

On December 26, the first COVID-19 vaccinations will arrive in Greece, according to what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

The first COVID-19 vaccinations in Greece will begin almost immediately, just a day later, in five hospitals.

"According to the latest information we have from the European Medicines Agency, the approval of the first vaccine is expected, it will be that of Pfizer, on December 26," Mitsotakis said.

"Distributions in Europe will begin shortly thereafter. We estimate that the first batch of the vaccine will be in our country on December 26 and from December 27, we will be able to have the first vaccinations in five hospitals in Athens and immediately after in Thessaloniki," he explained.

He then explained that hospital staff will be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Obviously, the employees in the National Health System will precede. First of all, our heroes, who have lifted so much weight in recent months working in our hospitals, in the Health Centers. But of course, also residents in nursing homes," he clarified.

Next up will be those over the age of 65.

The Prime Minister informed that the first to be vaccinated in Greece will be a "nurse and an elderly citizen".

Mitsotakis stressed once again the importance of vaccinating elderly people as the data shows "they represent 85% of our fellow human beings who have lost their lives since the beginning of the pandemic."

He also assured that the conditions for safe transport, proper storage and transport of the COVID-19 vaccines to a total of 1,018 vaccination centers has been ensured.

The Prime Minister also said Christmas will be a different experience this year and stressed "a vaccine not only frees us from the yoke of the health threat, but is also a passport to recover our freedoms which have experienced temporary but necessary restrictions."