Are the countries of Europe moving towards compulsory vaccination?

As COVID-19 cases increase in Europe, more emphasis has been placed on convincing the unvaccinated to receive the vaccine.

So far, measures have ranged from COVID passes to lockdowns targeting those without the vaccine.

But now more countries are considering mandatory vaccination. On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen called for an EU discussion in the subject.

While there are vaccine mandates in many countries for children, for example to immunize against measles, ethics experts say. it is more difficult to require adults be inoculated

Here’s a Europe-wide look at the conversation about mandatory COVID vaccines.

Austria

As of February 1, vaccination will be mandatory in Austria, the first mandatory vaccination requirement in Europe.

The move came days after Austria tried to block the unvaccinated, which was quickly extended to a full national blockade.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said it was the only way out of a vicious cycle of waves of the virus.

Greece

Greece will start fine people over 60 who are not vaccinated.

They will be fined € 100 per month if they do not receive the jab before January 15th.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the measure saying that the largest group accounted for 90% of COVID-19 deaths.

Since September, Greece has demanded that sanitation workers in public and private facilities be vaccinated. They have also tightened restrictions on the recently unvaccinated.

Germany

German parliamentarians are expected to vote on mandatory vaccination.

Olaf Scholz, who will become German chancellor later this month, said there would be a vote in the Bundestag and that he hoped and thought that MPs would vote in favor.

Greens co-leader Robert Habeck, who apparently could become vice chancellor of the new government, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that “compulsory vaccination would be a far-reaching invasion of the freedom of the individual. But it protects life and, in Ultimately, freedom. ” of the society.”

“To maintain the lead in the future and prevent a fifth wave, we must now prepare for a blanket vaccination obligation.”

Angela Merkel, who previously said that vaccination would not be mandatory, said on Thursday (December 2) that if she were a member of the Bundestag, she would vote in favor of mandatory vaccination.

Italy

Italy was one of the first countries to order vaccination of healthcare professionals in April in an effort to protect patients.

“Vaccination is an essential requirement for the exercise of the profession,” said the Italian Ministry of Health.

Recently, they extended that obligation to teachers and school administrative staff, the army, the police, and rescue personnel. It will go into effect on December 15.

Instead of demanding more vaccinations, Italy strengthened its “green pass”, requiring recovery from COVID-19 or vaccination in order to access shows, sporting events and nightclubs.

France

Since September, France has required vaccination of healthcare and sanitary professionals, firefighters and transport workers.

People with jobs who are in contact with the public must have a health pass in order to go to work that shows they are vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 or have had a negative test result.

Access to bars, restaurants, gyms, and many events also requires a health pass.

Health Minister Olivier Véran said that mandatory vaccination was not “the choice that France had made”, explaining that it would be more difficult to enforce for adults than for children.

United Kingdom

COVID-19 vaccines will be mandatory for healthcare and social care workers from April 1 in England, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in November as COVID-19 cases rose. .

However, Javid said in an interview with the BBC that he did not believe the UK would “ever consider” imposing mandatory vaccinations for the general population, stating that doubt about vaccines was low in the country.

Sweden

A spokesman for the Swedish health minister told Euronews that the government does not plan to introduce mandatory vaccination.

“Maintaining voluntary vaccines, building trust and helping citizens to make informed decisions has proven to be successful in achieving high vaccination rates in Sweden,” the spokesperson said.

Since December 1, Sweden imposed a COVID-19 pass for entry to public indoor events with more than 100 people.

The pass certifies that the holder has been fully vaccinated, tested negative for the virus or recovered from the disease.

Hungary

In Hungary, vaccination is compulsory for health workers, public school teachers and people working in state institutions.

Private companies are allowed to decide whether workers must be vaccinated or not.

Hungarian officials, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have urged citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible.