UIA is in favor of including aircrew in the first phase of the vaccination program
April 7, 2021: Ukraine International Airlines insists on the need for the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to include pilots and flight attendants in the list of key professions that are provided with priority vaccination against COVID-19 in accordance with existing international standards.
Recently, the leaders of five international organizations, namely the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization (WHO), signed a statement calling on governments to prioritize airline crew in their national COVID-19 vaccination programs. Along with other major professions. However, so far, the plan to immunize the population of Ukraine against COVID-19, developed by the Ministry of Health, does not provide for the primary vaccination of aviation personnel.
"Vaccination of pilots and flight attendants during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is strategically necessary. This step is important both for the preservation of the human resources of aviation, and in terms of strengthening protection against the spread of the virus, which has kept the aviation market on its knees for more than a year. In view of this, we at UIA are ready to act as ambassadors for vaccination in Ukraine, "said the airline's CEO Eugene Dykhne.
It should be noted that Ukraine has undertaken to comply with its standards and recommendations within the framework of the conventions of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA, in turn, shares the call for vaccination of civil aviation personnel as a matter of priority. This position reflects the place and role of air transport and personnel involved in ensuring flight activities, both in the world transport market and in the global trade system as a whole. Accordingly, the lack of aviation personnel among the critical categories in the course of increasing vaccination rates worldwide is unacceptable.
Reminder: In January of this year, UIA has already addressed the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with a proposal to revise and approve new rules for entry into Ukraine of vaccinated persons with a physical or electronic certificate of vaccination from COVID-19. UIA will always advocate for an active vaccination campaign - there is currently no other way to solve this global problem.