Greece has vowed to make COVID vaccinations mandatory for people over the age of 60, with those who refuse the jabs set to be fined €100 every month. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that going forward, the substantial fine will be imposed at monthly intervals starting in mid-January. Mitsotakis said the money would go towards the Greek health system.
Data shows that more than 520,000 people over the age of 60 have declined COVID vaccines. Reports out of the country state that roughly 63 per cent of Greece’s 11-million population is vaccinated.
In a statement to the cabinet on Tuesday, Mitsotakis said: “Greeks over the age of 60… must book their appointment for a first jab by January 16,” adding that: “Their vaccination is henceforth compulsory.”
While the extreme measure is yet to be put to parliamentary vote, lawmakers are widely expected to approve it.
In a blunt rebuke of the unvaccinated, the Prime Minister told his cabinet in a televised meeting that the move was “an act of justice for the vaccinated,” despite the fact that a body of evidence shows both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated can catch and spread COVID.
“It’s not a punishment,” Mitsotakis insisted. “I would say it is the price for health. It is also an act of justice for the vaccinated. It’s not right that they are deprived of health care services because others stubbornly refuse to do the obvious.”
Online, some wondered how successfully the new rule could be enforced. One user asked what would happen if people couldn’t or wouldn’t pay the fines, posing the question: “will Greece start locking up their pensioners?” Taking to Twitter, one person ventured: “The Greek government have enough trouble trying to get normal tax and council tax from it’s citizens so God knows how they’re going to enforce this….the Greeks are masters at avoiding impositions on their lives.”
The Greek government have enough trouble trying to get normal tax and council tax from it's citizens so God knows how they're going to enforce this….the Greeks are masters at avoiding impositions on their lives. I wish the Greek citizens well. Truly lovely people.
— Sandy Tregent (@SandyofSuffolk) November 30, 2021
While some online voiced support for the rule, there was also a negative reaction, with many saying that the rule was unfair and “made no sense” as they accused the government of a one-way agenda to enforce control over its citizens.
https://twitter.com/BernieSpofforth/status/1465672164305248261?s=2
https://twitter.com/trutherbleuchef/status/1465837241796812800?s=20
Another user described Greece, the home of democracy, as “draconian” for enforcing the mandate.
Greece introducing vaccine mandate for people over 60 with fines of €100 per month for those who don't take it up. This draconian approach – and we can see many examples now – is counterproductive. Education and engagement required over coercion.
— Jonathon Shafi (@Jonathon_Shafi) November 30, 2021
“What’s next, lower pension payments if you don’t have vaccines, or boosters?” one person ventured. Others argued that the country would “not get away” with enforcing such a policy.
🚨🚨 Mandatory vaccines for over 60s in Greece.
If you don't have one you get a 100 Euro fine EVERY MONTH.
➡️ What next – lower pension payments if you don't have vaccines, or boosters? https://t.co/2AFwJRVvT7
— Jamie Jenkins (@statsjamie) November 30, 2021
Another user pointed out that even in authoritarian states like China, there is not a mandatory policy.
Making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory was once unthinkable. But Greece is the second European country to make vaccinations mandatory, after Austria – Even in authoritarian states, like China, there is not mandatory policy https://t.co/0Lj5QyfMwY pic.twitter.com/IbqAI0TkpW
— George Roussos (@baphometx) November 30, 2021
Greece is the first country in the EU to place a vaccination mandate on a specific age group. The monthly fine for refusing the vaccine is considerable for retirees; the average pension is €730 a month.
Greece, alongside Austria, has introduced compulsory vaccinations after a series of strict measures — such as banning unvaccinated individuals from indoor venues such as restaurants, events, hotels and nightclubs — failed. Both nations have prominent anti-vaccination movements, with hundreds of healthcare workers taking to the streets of Athens earlier this month to protest mandatory vaccines in the sector.
https://twitter.com/PatriotikiFoni/status/1440631509069664265?s=20
Health care unions have said they do not oppose the vaccines but object to them being made compulsory for workers. COVID vaccines are currently mandatory for workers in Greece’s health care sector and those working in care homes for the elderly.
Greece’s contentious mandate comes as the world scrambles to respond to the new omicron variant. The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) said this week that all 44 confirmed cases of the new variant recorded in Europe so far are “asymptomatic or people with mild symptoms,” adding that no severe cases or deaths have occurred.