Greek authorities launched a vaccination campaign Thursday for tens of thousands of migrants living in government-run facilities, starting with the islands of Lesbos, Chios, and Samos.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum said the campaign started in the facilities on the Aegean Sea islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos and will expand to other centres next week.

Health Ministry officials said the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was being used for the program, which is scheduled to expand to other Greek islands and the mainland starting later this week.

Around 60,000 migrants and asylum-seekers currently live in camps, shelters, and government-subsidized apartments in Greece. About one-quarter are children and not currently eligible to receive vaccines.

To date, some 5.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Greece. More than two million people have been fully vaccinated. Greece has also started the gradual relaxation of several restrictions imposed when the second lockdown had started on November 7, 2020.

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