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Greek PM: Seniors Over 60 Must be Vaccinated or Face Penalties

Photo source: @PrimeMinisterGR

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Tuesday that all citizens 60 or over must be vaccinated or face a 100-euro fine in the government’s latest an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19 without going into lockdown.

“Greeks over the age of 60 who have not been vaccinated must by January 16 book an appointment for their first dose or else they will face a 100-euro administrative fine every month,” he said during a cabinet meeting.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Greece is increasing, with the national public health authority reporting 6,677 new coronavirus cases and 104 deaths in the last 24-hour period.

The regulation is set to take effect on January 16. Collected monthly fines will be used to fund hospitals, he said.

Mitsotakis also announced that self-tests would be available free of charge to everyone during the holiday season  – from December 6 to 12 and between January 3 and 7. Health Minister Thanos Plevris is expected to make relevant announcements on Wednesday.

Photo source: Ministry of Health

According to data, about 63 percent of the country’s population has been vaccinated against Covid. Health authorities say however that despite an increase in the number of booked appointments for vaccination, people in the 60+ category are still not showing up.

“We are focusing our efforts on protection of our fellow citizens and for this reason vaccination will be mandatory from now on,” said Mitsotakis.

The prime minister also called for vigilance with regard to the emergence of the Omicron variant, which he said “sooner or later” would be making its way to Greece. “We will know more about this variant in two weeks’ time,” he said. “That’s why we must continue to implement our policy even faster. In other words, we must save time.” 

Meanwhile, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle Walensky said on Monday that all US adults “should” get a Covid vaccine booster. Last week, EU authorities proposed a revision to non-essential travel rules, giving priority to vaccinated travelers and advising them to get booster shots against the deadly virus if they wish to extend the validity of their EU Digital Covid Certificate.

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  1. Mark Reply

    So if I have had 2 shots but not the booster, am I still fined?

  2. Diana Brooks Reply

    Absolutely disgraceful! Yet more proof of the bullying, spiteful tactics employed by this government on their citizens and just how divorced they are with reality. With the majority of his senior citizens already on a below-the-breadline (yet fully taxable!) pension, Mr. Mitsotakis and his yes-men will happily fine them 100 euros per month for choosing not to vaccinate. Where have Human Rights disappeared to in this purported Hellenic Democracy? I am over 60, law abiding and still working and contributing to the system. However, I have a serious circulatory problem and have chosen not to have the vaccine because of this. Others of my age may have similar issues. Others may simply have made a choice. In a democratic society that should be their right. However, our age group is now going to face an impossible decision. Personally, I will either be forced to jeopordise my health by taking a vaccine that could be far more dangerous to me than any flu (which, by the way, Ive never had in my life thanks to an efficient immune system!) or try and find 1,200 euros a year to pay my fines. Shame on you Mr. Mitsotakis. Shame on the entire Greek government. You are all a disgrace to democracy.

  3. CELIA HALVAS Reply

    I am Greek from abroad, I have my Greek passport and ID, and I can’t get the third vaccine because I don’t have a TEMPORARY AMKA, I submit the form on the Internet website , and I’ve been informed by the KEP that it’s going to be very slowly and they have to wait two months, the world is really worried about this pandemic and still people has to wait?

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