[Greece] Unvaccinated expats and citizens will pay £85 health levy

British expats in Greece are concerned about an announcement that they must be vaccinated or pay £85, a requirement some have deemed ‘impossible to enforce!’, Brinkwire reports.

Residents in Greece must have the vaccine or pay the state €100 (£85) for each month they remain unvaccinated.

On January 16, 2022, a new rule for people over the age of 60 will go into effect in the country.

The Greek population is currently only 62 per cent vaccinated; the European average is 66 per cent.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that the Greek Government will now fine people who have not been vaccinated.

“It’s not a penalty,” he said.

“It’s a health levy, a motivation for precaution, a boost to life, but it’s also an act of justice toward the vaccinated majority, in my opinion.

“We cannot allow people to be denied access to vital public health services because some others have dug in their heels and refused to do what is self-evident.”

60,000 senior citizens signed up to be vaccinated following the announcement, according to Al Jazeera.

Unvaccinated residents are also prohibited from entering indoor restaurants, bars, theatres, or gyms and must have a negative test result to enter non-essential stores.

COVID cases have been on the rise in Greece and 80 per cent of the most seriously afflicted patients are reportedly unvaccinated.

Vaccination is also a requirement for British expats in Greece, those who remain unvaccinated will face a fine from the government.

“The Greek Government has now confirmed that it will be mandatory for all residents of Greece who will be 60 years old or over on the 16th of January 2022 to receive the COVID-19 vaccination,” the British Embassy wrote on its Facebook page, Brits in Greece.

“Those in this age group who have not received, or have not scheduled, their first dose by January 16 will be fined €100 (£85) for each month they are unvaccinated.

“Those who will be under the age of 60 on January 16 will be required to get vaccinated once they reach that age.

“You can schedule your vaccination appointment online, at a Citizen’s Bureau (KEP), or at a pharmacist, depending on your circumstances.”

The news of impending fines for people who are not vaccinated in the country has angered some expatriates.

“Mandatory isn’t law,” one said.

You can’t compel people to participate in a medical study.”

“How will you feel when they tell you that you have to have a jab every three months or that you have to have a procedure you don’t want?” expat Wendy Marks said.

“Something that is mandatory must be done, or is demanded by law, so even if you don’t think it’s law, the.” Carl Rhodes, another expat in Greece, said.

Source: Brinkwire

(Quotes via original reporting)

British expats in Greece are concerned about an announcement that they must be vaccinated or pay £85, a requirement some have deemed ‘impossible to enforce!’, Brinkwire reports.

Residents in Greece must have the vaccine or pay the state €100 (£85) for each month they remain unvaccinated.

On January 16, 2022, a new rule for people over the age of 60 will go into effect in the country.

The Greek population is currently only 62 per cent vaccinated; the European average is 66 per cent.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that the Greek Government will now fine people who have not been vaccinated.

“It’s not a penalty,” he said.

“It’s a health levy, a motivation for precaution, a boost to life, but it’s also an act of justice toward the vaccinated majority, in my opinion.

“We cannot allow people to be denied access to vital public health services because some others have dug in their heels and refused to do what is self-evident.”

60,000 senior citizens signed up to be vaccinated following the announcement, according to Al Jazeera.

Unvaccinated residents are also prohibited from entering indoor restaurants, bars, theatres, or gyms and must have a negative test result to enter non-essential stores.

COVID cases have been on the rise in Greece and 80 per cent of the most seriously afflicted patients are reportedly unvaccinated.

Vaccination is also a requirement for British expats in Greece, those who remain unvaccinated will face a fine from the government.

“The Greek Government has now confirmed that it will be mandatory for all residents of Greece who will be 60 years old or over on the 16th of January 2022 to receive the COVID-19 vaccination,” the British Embassy wrote on its Facebook page, Brits in Greece.

“Those in this age group who have not received, or have not scheduled, their first dose by January 16 will be fined €100 (£85) for each month they are unvaccinated.

“Those who will be under the age of 60 on January 16 will be required to get vaccinated once they reach that age.

“You can schedule your vaccination appointment online, at a Citizen’s Bureau (KEP), or at a pharmacist, depending on your circumstances.”

The news of impending fines for people who are not vaccinated in the country has angered some expatriates.

“Mandatory isn’t law,” one said.

You can’t compel people to participate in a medical study.”

“How will you feel when they tell you that you have to have a jab every three months or that you have to have a procedure you don’t want?” expat Wendy Marks said.

“Something that is mandatory must be done, or is demanded by law, so even if you don’t think it’s law, the.” Carl Rhodes, another expat in Greece, said.

Source: Brinkwire

(Quotes via original reporting)