Lithuanian leaders’ dilemma: set an example or give doctors a vaccine

After a firm statement a few weeks ago that she would be one of the first to get vaccinated, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė changed her mind: now she no longer wants “public relations”. But another country official, Seimas spokesman Viktorija Čmilytė – Nielsen, urges her to think about it.

The president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, was one of the first to be vaccinated and it was transmitted before Christmas.

“I am doing this to show that people should get vaccinated as soon as possible, there is nothing to worry about,” the president said.

Previously, when vaccines were not yet available in Lithuania, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė was one of the first to promise to be vaccinated. On December 10, he said he plans to vaccinate one of the first.

“It just came to our knowledge then. I would not like it to be understood as a privilege, I really did not need any privilege in my life,” the politician said this time at Seimas.

Then I. Šimonytė talked about how famous people could cause a wave in this way.

“To show that it is safe, I trust the authorities’ decisions regarding the registration of this measure,” the head of government explained then.

A few weeks have passed, the vaccines are now available, but the prime minister has changed his mind. Now she is already saying that now is not the time.

“I think public relations is perhaps less important than doing quickly and professionally what is important,” the prime minister told LRT radio.

The government says the prime minister will get vaccinated when the time comes for a comprehensive vaccination plan for the population.

Public relations specialist Arūnas Armalis explained that such decisions hurt.

“I would say that trust is already breaking down now. Because if she said almost 3 weeks ago that she would be vaccinated, and today she does not. So what is it to believe? ”The expert asked.

Seimas spokeswoman Viktorija Čmilytė – Nielsen contracted the coronavirus a month ago, so she does not need a vaccine yet. But think that other leaders should.

“I think the example of the Prime Minister and the Ministers would be very good. Especially now that there is a lot of mistrust, misinformation. That would be a useful example, ”he said.

The same opinion is shared by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis. He told News Radio on Wednesday morning that both the former and current prime minister could be among the first to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, thus showing the public that despite party affiliation, the government of the entire country trust coronavirus vaccines.

Especially the heads of state have broad public trust. When they get vaccinated, they send a message to the public that vaccination is beneficial and that vaccines should be trusted.

My imagination is that it would not be assumed that this is a possible privilege of the current government, it could be vaccinated, for example, by prime ministers. So are former prime ministers. This is Saulius Skvernelis, Ingrida Šimonytė, which shows that it does not matter if it is the opposition or the ruling majority, but the most important message for the Lithuanian people is that regardless of party affiliation, these people trust vaccination.

And that this is the only way to stop the pandemic that is hitting us all. This removes the political focus from the vaccination process, but at the same time preserves the message that public leaders are sending a signal, ”Landsbergis told Knowledge Radio.

In other countries, some of the first health officials are the first to get vaccinated. But Lithuanian Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys does not promise to do so just yet.

“The communication strategy on vaccination is currently being finalized. If there is a recommendation that the Minister, by his example, could persuade the public to get vaccinated, he will definitely do so,” A. Dulkys is quoted in the comment.

That President Gitanas Nausėda will not be one of the first to say so.

“I will certainly test the benefits of the vaccine to the best of my ability, but I will get vaccinated according to established procedure when it is my turn,” he explained.

What is it: a sincere denial of privilege or a lack of leadership?

“I think it’s more of a fear of being accused of privilege,” Armalis said.

Polls show that almost 40 percent of Lithuanians are in favor of vaccination. Herd immunity requires 70 percent. Therefore, the most important thing is whether the undecided will be convinced. And there are about 30 percent of them missing.

Two shipments of coronavirus vaccines have already arrived in Lithuania. The first shipment with 9,750 doses of vaccine arrived in Lithuania early Saturday morning. Lithuania started vaccination together with other European Union countries on December 27.

Monday 7 pm The second shipment of the vaccine, developed jointly by pharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Pfizer, was delivered to Vilnius airport in the morning. Another 10,725 doses of vaccine have reached Lithuania. The vaccination in this consignment is intended to be used for the second vaccination of already vaccinated medical personnel.