Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that vaccination against COVID-19 will be made mandatory for educators and government officials.
The Cabinet did not say when this would come into effect. News outlet RBC Ukraine reported that a full list of professions that will have to get the shots will be created within a week, citing an unnamed health official.
“The order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on mandatory vaccination of certain categories of professions in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation will come into force,” Shmyhal said at a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 22.
According to the Ministry of Health, just 49% of people who work in education received at least one dose of the vaccine and only 39% are fully vaccinated. The percentage of vaccinated school staff will determine whether their schools will be open or forced to rely on distance learning.
Meanwhile, some public sector roles like medical workers, first responders and Ministry of Interior employees have over 80% vaccination.
Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko had proposed this measure earlier.
“We propose to start the introduction of mandatory preventive vaccinations against acute respiratory disease COVID-19. In particular, for employees of educational institutions, employees of ministries, other central executive bodies, their structural subdivisions, and local state administrations,” Lyashko said.
He added that current Ukrainian laws already provide for mandatory vaccination. Article 12 of the law “On Protection of Population against Infectious Diseases” states that “employees of certain professions, industries and organizations, whose activities may lead to the infection of these workers and (or) the spread of infectious diseases, are subject to the necessary preventive changes.”
Lyashko added that making vaccination non-optional for public employees does not contradict the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
According to a recent study, 56% of Ukrainians do not want to get vaccinated.
On Sept. 13 the Cabinet introduced exemptions to quarantine restrictions for vaccinated Ukrainians.
Businesses in yellow zones, which must normally limit their number of visitors, will be able to get around this restriction if at least 80% of staff and visitors can prove they have gotten at least one dose.
In red zones, all staff and visitors must have certificates proving they’re fully vaccinated to attend events, cinemas, theaters, museums, gyms and swimming pools.
