Outgoing government will enforce compulsory vaccinations for selected groups

The outgoing government will enforce compulsory vaccinations for people over the age of 60 and those in selected high-risk professions such as doctors, soldiers and police officers, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch confirmed after Monday’s cabinet session devoted to the health crisis. He said the Health Ministry’s decree would come into effect on March 1, so as to give the health authorities enough time to inoculate the selected groups of the population. It is not clear how the authorities plan to deal with non-compliance. The move has been severely criticized by the incoming administration which says it will invalidate the decree when it takes office.

The government on Monday stopped short of further tightening the coronavirus measures in place. Minister Vojtěch said the latest Covid figures suggest the fifth wave of the epidemic may have peaked and the cabinet would wait a few more days before considering further restrictions. However, in view of the fact that the pressure on hospitals is not expected to let up for some time, he appealed to the public to adhere to the measures in place and asked employers not to hold Christmas parties this year.