Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of the dangers posed by the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 for children – “it harms them – and urged their vaccination.

“We know that the Delta variant is more dangerous and harms children as well, and the damage to the organism can be long-term. The vaccine is safe and effective. Already 130,000 children between the ages 12-17 have already been vaccinated with the consent of their parents,” the PM said in a tweet.

In a previous tweet, Mitsotakis announced that at a conference with representatives of paediatric associations, there was unanimous agreement that paediatricians should assume a more active role in vaccinating youths that are 12-17 years old.

He underlined that there must be a push to increase the rate of vaccination as schools are scheduled to open on 13 September.

In August, 20,000 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in youths in that age bracket.

The health ministry has announced that educators must present a certificate of vaccination or documentation that they have recovered from COVID-19 infection. Otherwise, the teachers themselves will at their own expense have to have two laboratory test weekly.

Deputy Health Minister Zetta Makri that the arrangement will be similar at Greek universities.

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