The head of the European Union’s executive branch said Wednesday that the bloc countries should consider forcing people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because too many still refuse to inoculate voluntarily.
The vaccination rate in the EU is 66% and an unexpectedly high increase in cases across much of the 27-nation bloc has prompted a majority of member nations to renew mask and testing requirements, and take other steps to contain infections. .
“It is understandable and appropriate to have this discussion now. How can we motivate and potentially consider compulsory vaccination in the European Union ”, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Since health policy is still a national right in the EU and forcing vaccines is a highly controversial issue, Von der Leyen stressed.
“A third of the European population is not vaccinated. They are 150 million people. It’s a lot, ”he told reporters.
“Life-saving vaccines are not used properly everywhere,” he continued. “It is a huge health cost that it entails.”
German Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz said he will back a proposal to force people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 next year.
EU countries have adopted different strategies on the subject. Austria promised to make vaccinations mandatory for all residents from February 1. Starting in mid-January, Greece plans to fine people 60 and older up to 100 euros ($ 113) a month if they don’t get vaccinated.
“The data is irrefutable: 9 out of 10 Greeks who lose their lives (due to COVID-19) are over 60 years old, and more than 8 out of 10 people (who die) were not vaccinated,” said the Parliament. Greek Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
For its part, Slovakia is considering paying people in that age group 500 euros ($ 567) to get vaccinated.
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