Greece scraps fines to elderly who didn’t get Covid-vaccine

The fines imposed to elderly who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2022 will be written off, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“We have recommended the withdrawal of the fines imposed on the elderly who were not vaccinated during the pandemic period,” the minister announced adding that the relative legislation will be tabled as soon as possible.

In December 2021, the government legislated that residents of Greece over 60 years old would be fined with 100 euros per month for every month that they were not vaccinated against the coronavirus. The legislation went into effect in January 2022 and at some point it was dropped in silence, when the tourism season opened. However, the fines were booked at the tax office accounts of those who refused to get the jab.

In the extraordinary presser on Wednesday, the minister did not reveal any measures against Covid-19 that is on a surge.

Minister Gerogiadis merely praised the benefits of vaccines and urged citizens, especially the elderly and the vulnerable, to get vaccinated against the coronavirus and the flu.

During the first wave of the pandemic, “We were divided in pro- and anti-vaxxers, we not tend an olive branch,” Georgiadis said. “The vaccine is not forced but it is important for our health. We will not measure doses, as we did during the pandemic. The coronavirus is here to stay. This year, vaccination figures have not been as bad as some have said, but we aspire to do even better,” he added, among others.

The Health Ministry will launch a big campaign to convince about the significance of anti-coronavirus vaccination for the public health. “We’ll think of ways so that the vaccine will reach everybody,” Georgiadis underlined.

Covid-19, flu

Public hospitals across the country already feel the pressure of the infections such as Covid-19, flu and other viruses and the situation is starting to resemble the first wave of the pandemic.

According to website healthreport.gr, although vaccination appointments for over 60s have increased lately, rates remain low, something that worries public health experts who fear an increase in hospitalizations from older patients.

The picture in the hospitals is already dramatic and it is not known whether they will withstand a larger wave of admissions. Scientists record a 30% increase in hospitalizations in recent days, a “cocktail of coronavirus, flu and other respiratory infections.”

Especially the big hospitals of Greek capital Athens, where everyone goes because of the lack of Primary Health Care Units, waiting times in the ERs exceed 8 hours in many cases as next to the infections there are also the daily incidents that have to be treated.