Ukraine's healthcare system is ready for an increase in the incidence of COVID-19, but the only alternative to the introduction of lockdown is vaccination, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview for ICTV within the Freedom of Speech program.
"There are two ways at this crossroads: vaccination or lockdown. Every day we face this challenge and this choice. I am totally against lockdown - because of the economy. Because if there is no lockdown, we see figures - we are growing. Our GDP is growing, the budget is growing, the filling of the budget this year is more than planned," the Head of State said.
The President noted that due to the growth of the economy in Ukraine next year it will be possible to increase the minimum wage of a doctor to UAH 20 thousand, and the average medical staff - to UAH 13.5 thousand.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the healthcare system is ready for an increase in the incidence of COVID-19. At the same time, despite the supply of oxygen to hospitals, medical institutions will not be able to cope with a large number of patients, so the only way to avoid this situation is vaccination.
"When your number of patients grows, no system will withstand. Today we have one of the largest systems in Europe in terms of the number of thousands of beds, in terms of oxygen readiness. But no one will be able to withstand 300 or 500 thousand (of sick - ed.)," the President said.
Therefore, according to the Head of State, citizens should be vaccinated en masse to avoid increasing quarantine in the country. For their part, the authorities have to prove the need for vaccination by their own example.
"The President must constantly talk about vaccination and vaccinate himself. Every statesman should do it - the Prime Minister, every minister… By the way, the new speaker is also vaccinated. All government officials must show the state by their example that vaccination is necessary, the entire Verkhovna Rada should do that,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President added that the media should also pay special attention to the promotion of vaccination.