MINSK, 29 June (BelTA) – There is no need to financially stimulate Belarusians to get a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“So far, from my point of view, based on the analysis we are conducting, we do not need to introduce any incentives for vaccination. Everyone understands [the importance of vaccination], makes their own informed choice. We are not having a situation when there are vaccines, but no one wants to get a jab,” Dmitry Pinevich said.
The minister noted that vaccination clinics were opened in malls to vaccinate as many people as possible. “In Minsk, we have succeeded in eliminating queues in polyclinics,” he said.
Yet, Dmitry Pinevich believes that it makes sense to open pop-up COVID vaccination centers in malls only in big cities. “It makes sense in large cities. It does not make much sense in small towns. For example, vaccination clinics can be opened in oblast capitals and cities of accelerated development like Molodechno, Baranovichi,” the minister said recalling that now vaccination clinics are running in polyclinics, hospitals and infirmaries.
Dmitry Pinevich noted that Belarus expects to get the Sputnik Light vaccine. “We have not received it yet, because the vaccine is in great demand in the Russian Federation. But we plan (we have applications) to vaccinate students before the start of the academic year,” he said.
