"I cannot speak about timing as it does not depend on us, but it depends on how this priority will be set. Currently, the army is the last priority. I earlier proposed a review of the priorities and I can repeat that against now: just as medics, who carry out an important mission for ensuring public health, have been vaccinated, troops equally carry out an important mission in ensuring the country's security, and the police accordingly do that in terms of internal security," Anusauskas told BNS on Friday.
"Our expectation would be to have this process done over the upcoming three months," he added.
The minister discussed the army vaccination issue with President Gitanas Nauseda earlier in the day. The meeting was also attended by Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys.
The minister and the chief of defense introduced the president to the way how the army would be vaccinated.
"Troops perform tasks and do that collectively, within units, therefore, their vaccination should be done in units, not individually, via the Military Medical Service," the minister said.
The presidential office said on Friday that troops would be vaccinated under priorities et by the chief of defense, and the organization and performance of critical tasks and risk management would be ensured.
According to Nauseda, military training of army units and combat readiness should not be affected by the vaccination principles.
According to Anusauskas, army medics have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, therefore, some 12,000 people, including conscripts and support staff should be vaccinated.