ATHENS — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged citizens 30-39 to book their vaccination appointments against the coronavirus, in a post on social media on Tuesday.

As the online appointments booking platform opened on the day for this specific age group, the premier wrote on Twitter that they should "shield themselves so as to protect their loves ones."

Από σήμερα μπορούν να κλείσουν ραντεβού για εμβολιασμό οι συμπολίτες μας ετών 30-39!

Θωρακιζόμαστε και προστατεύουμε τους αγαπημένους μας. Εμβολιαζόμαστε! https://t.co/FrpK74j3Pspic.twitter.com/M8IxXV6n5F

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) April 27, 2021

The platform for citizens aged 30-39 who wish to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine opened on Tuesday (Holy Tuesday) and the first 60,000 appointments have already been confirmed, stated Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis to ANT1 TV.

"The platform opened late Monday for those in the e-prescription system, while on Holy Thursday it will be the turn of citizens aged 40-44 and on Holy Saturday for those aged 45-49," Pierrakakis said.

He also said that in the last days "we have given the opportunity to the citizens to get the second shot of the vaccine in another city, in order to facilitate the citizens ahead of the summer," providing greater flexibility ahead of the summer holidays.

On the abolition of the SMS for citizens' movements between municipalities he estimated that this was very close: "The day that this will come to an end will be decided by the responsible vaccination committee or the Civil Protection Secretariat".

Finally, the minister announced that immediately after Easter "we will present to the Prime Minister a new digital service via gov.gr that will concern the interaction between the citizens and their bank".

On Thursday, April 29, the platform will open for citizens aged 40-44 who will also be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Citizens who have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and wish to receive the second dose sooner than the current 12 weeks, can do so after the first eight weeks, if necessary, the head of the National Vaccination Committee Maria Theodoridou said at a briefing on Monday.

The online booking platform for 45 to 49-year-olds will open on May 1 (Good Saturday) and all four vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca και Johnson & Johnson – will be available.