Croatia has still not reached its vaccination target, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday, warning of the spread of the Delta variant throughout Europe.

Plenkovic once again called on everyone to get vaccinated, announcing that all those without healthcare coverage could be vaccinated for free.

“We have 46.8% vaccinated with one dose. We are gradually coming to 50%, while 39% of the total population are fully vaccinated. That is still not enough,” he said at the start of the cabinet meeting, warning of the fast spread of a much more contagious Delta variant in Europe.

He repeated that vaccination protects against the most serious cases of illness and that those who are not vaccinated are more susceptible to contagion.

“For those who are not inoculated, one in 44 infected persons is likely to die,” said Plenkovic, claiming that that remaining unvaccinated is an enormous and unnecessary risk.

Plenkovic once again called on citizens to get vaccinated, particularly elderly persons and those with chronic diseases, recalling that 8,233 people have died of COVID in Croatia, 92% of whom were above 60.

“This is a challenge and threat in which individual attitudes are insufficient. This is a situation in which we depend on each other and the more citizens are protected, the better,” concluded Plenkovic and announced the possibility of free vaccination in Croatia for all citizens regardless of whether they have healthcare coverage or not and which part of the world they come from.

“Croatian citizens can come to Croatia and get vaccinated for free, and others can do so too. We have doses available and want to protect whoever wants to be protected,” he said, adding that that was a contribution to global efforts to suppress COVID-19.

Health Minister Vili Beros said that the government’s decision to this effect enabled all people residing in Croatia, no matter what their citizenship is and whether they are covered by healthcare insurance or not, to get vaccinated free of charge.