ATHENS — The vaccination platform for citizens aged 65 to 69 opened on Friday and they have already started receiving messages offering them vaccination dates, Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis underlined in an interview with Real FM radio on Friday.

He said the Greek vaccination appointment system is different to that of other European countries that used call centres, as it is fast and has delivers good quality results, since there are no queues outside the vaccination centres. Pierrakakis said that the aim was, as far as possible to carry out vaccinations "as soon as the vaccines arrive", adding that currently 1,114,370 citizens have received the first dose of a vaccine, while 624,681 have been given both doses.

The minister said that all citizens over 60 and all vulnerable groups will be vaccinated, at least with the first dose, in early May: "This means an immunity wall has started to be built".

Referring to self tests for Covid, the minister said that" the deliveries of the tests will start in the next few days, with priority given to pupils, citizens 18-67, followed by groups over 67".