Czech government decides against mandatory vaccination

The Czech government has decided that it will not make coronavirus vaccination mandatory, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced at a press briefing on Wednesday. The cabinet does not wish to “widen divisions within society”, he said.

Today’s government meeting also resulted in the approval of an amendment to the country’s pandemic law. The amendment, prepared by the previous government of the ANO party and the Social Democrats, extends the period for which the legislation is active up to August 2023. Furthermore, new additions will make it possible for the government to enact quarantine and isolation measures, or limit dance club attendance.

Health Minister Vlastimil Válek announced that further counter-epidemic measures are being prepared, such as allowing booster doses for children over the age of 12.