Evening stream After the legislative initiative to stop the activities of the UOC-MP in Ukraine, anti-vaccination sentiments decreased.
Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Igor Kuzin said about this on the air of the program “Ukrinform: evening stream”.
“When we carried out vaccination campaigns and immunization rounds back in pre-modern times, we noticed that pockets of the Moscow Patriarchate were almost all anti-vaccine. In addition, they bring this to other masses, that is, they are aggressive. We are currently undergoing a vaccine campaign against measles, and after the ban (meaning government bill No. 8371, currently under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada) of the Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, we see that this information influence has now been significantly reduced. People listen, are interested (in vaccination – ed.), take handouts, start studying,” said Kuzin.
However, as the deputy minister noted, obviously, there is a certain group of people who are interested in spreading myths about vaccination. According to him, all of them are based either on unverified data or on the results of freely interpreted scientific studies.
Among other groups of the population avoiding vaccination, Kuzin named, in particular, the Roma, who, according to him, historically have the slightest adherence to vaccination. As well as individual religious cells, with which, according to the deputy minister, they will work, including through the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches.
As Ukrinform reported, in January 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers registered in the Verkhovna Rada bill No. 8371 on the activities of religious organizations in Ukraine, according to which the activities of the UOC-MP may be terminated.
The bill is aimed at ensuring spiritual independence and preventing a split in society on religious grounds, promoting the consolidation of Ukrainian society and protecting national interests.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommended that the parliament adopt this document in the first reading.
Previously, people's deputies registered in parliament a similar bill — No. 8221 “On ensuring the strengthening of national security in the field of freedom of conscience and the activities of religious organizations.”
The Humanitarian Committee also recommended that the Verkhovna Rada adopt this document in the first reading.
Around the relevant draft laws There are discussions going on. Recently, the Head of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed the opinion that the parliament would have the necessary 226 votes to ban the activities of the UOC-MP if the relevant bills are put to a vote.
