Zelensky wants most Ukrainians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Independence Day

He said this during a traditional conference call on countering the spread of COVID-19, according to the presidential press service.

"The pace of vaccination needs to be increased. In addition, we have to raise awareness among people about the importance of vaccination. After all, this is the only and most effective way to fight the pandemic," Zelensky said.

He stressed that the government should strengthen communication with the regions on the situation with the incidence of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in turn, recalled that more than 759,000 people had already been vaccinated in Ukraine and that it was possible to vaccinate 80,000-100,000 Ukrainians per day.

At the same time, Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov said that Ukraine's health care system makes it possible to vaccinate 400,000-500,000 people per day if there is enough vaccine, so the pace of vaccination is to be increased.

According to Stepanov, there are 11,000 vaccination sites in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Minister of Health Stepanov also said that Ukraine was in the process of preparing for the introduction of vaccine passports in accordance with European standards.

Some 2,576 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Ukraine on May 4, and 3,425 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on the same day.

op