Greek officials have announced plans to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for anyone aged 60 and over now living in Greece.  Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting that the new rule will come into effect from Sunday 16th January next year.  He added that authorities will impose a €100 fine every month on every person who fails to comply with the order.  Details of the fines impossed and payment details will be announced shortly.  The announcement follows a move earlier this month that barred unvaccinated people from indoor spaces including restaurants, cinemas, theatres, museums and gyms, even if they had tested negative for the coronavirus.  Greece has experienced a rapid surge in Coronavirus cases in recent weeks, a record 8,613 cases recorded on 9th November.

Daily infections have reached record levels recently, with the country's 7-day average now reaching 6,721 infections per day.  The country has experienced significant vaccine hesitancy, with just 63% of the country's 11 million strong population fully vaccinated, well below the European average.

82% of Covid-19 victims in Greece were over 65 years of age and mostly unvaccinated.  Of the 3,329 deaths in hospitals from the pandemic in October and November, 2,746 were in this age group.  After the announcement, appointments increased sevenfold.

From 16th December 2021, all expats living in Greece will now face the same vaccination rules as all citizens and residents of the country.  The rules were imposed earlier this month and will see the over 60's who refuse the jab slapped with monthly rolling fines.

Greece will abolish the 100 euros fines for people over the age of 60 who are unvaccinated against Covid-19 from mid-April 2022.  The Greek Health Minister said officials would review the measures in September 2022, depending on epidemiological trends.