Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Wednesday expressed his government's support for vaccinating children under the age of 12 against COVID-19.
Speaking during an event in Kalisz in western Poland, Morawiecki called the pandemic a great tragedy and told the mostly conservative crowd that vaccines have saved many lives in the past.
"If all major medicine agencies, especially in Europe, confirm that children under the age of 12 can be vaccinated, we will allow for it. Vaccination will be voluntary and aimed at breaking this chain of infections that could lead to a fourth wave," the prime minister said.
Vaccination of children is controversial within the conservative circle of the base of Law and Justice, the party that Morawiecki represents.
Vaccination rates in the rural, more traditional areas of Poland significantly trail those of cities.
As of Wednesday, 37.43 percent of the Polish population of 38 million have been fully vaccinated. To curb a recent drop in vaccination registrations, the government introduced a lottery, offering money and prizes for people choosing to receive a vaccine.
