Greece to make vaccinations for persons over 60 mandatory, PM says - Reuters

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A migrant speaks with a Health ministry official before receiving a shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Mavrovouni camp for refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos, Greece, June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

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• Greece makes COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for over 60s
• Greek PM says measure not punitive
• "Price to pay for health" - PM says

ATHENS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Greece said on Tuesday it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for people aged 60 and over, a drastic step for the country grappling with a new surge in coronavirus cases.

Authorities said they would impose a 100 euro ($114) fine on every individual over the age of 60 who was not vaccinated.

The measure would apply each month from Jan. 16 onwards.

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek Prime Minister, said he struggled with the decision, but it was necessary to protect more than half a million elderly Greeks who had failed to get the jab.

"Its the price to pay for health," he said.

About 63% of Greece's around 11 million population is fully vaccinated. While vaccine appointments have picked up in recent weeks, health ministry data shows there are 520,000 people over the age of 60 who have failed to get a jab.

"We are focusing our efforts on protection of our fellow citizens and for this reason their vaccination will be mandatory from now on," Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting.

"Greeks over the age of 60 who have not been vaccinated must, by Jan. 16, book an appointment for their first dose, or else they will face a 100 euro administrative fine every month," Mitsotakis told his cabinet.

He did not say how this would be enforced. A 100 euro fine is a hefty chunk of the average monthly 730 euro pension.

"(The decision) tortured me, but I feel a heavy responsibility in standing next to those most vulnerable, even if it might fleetingly displease them," he said.

Greece this month barred unvaccinated people from indoor spaces including restaurants, cinemas, museums and gyms as daily COVID-19 cases hit record highs.

It has recorded 931,183 infections and 18,067 deaths since the start of the pandemic last year.

($1 = 0.8805 euros)

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Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Edmund Blair, Kirsten Donovan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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