ATHENS — President of Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in a statement on Tuesday, referred to the importance of vaccination after her meetings with the political leaders and underlined that "today we are making the first and critical step to return to our lives, without restrictions and inhibitions, to break free from the long period of being the virus' hostage," she said.

"The vaccination, according to the scientists' recommendations, is an act to protect ourselves and others, to protect personal and public health. Immunity in the community guarantees our health and life," she added.

The president also thanked Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras, Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata and MeRA25 leader Yanis Varoufakis for accepting her invitation to jointly point out the importance of mass vaccinations and be the first to give an example. "Apart from the different political views on matters regarding the management of the pandemic, unity and cohesion is the Greeks' greatest strength".