Italy’s government has issued a decree requiring that everyone 50 years old and up be vaccinated against Covid-19, exempting only those who have recently recovered from the virus or who can’t take the shots for medical reasons.
The Council of Ministers unanimously approved the new mandate on Wednesday after weighing various possible measures to reduce the strain on hospitals amid the rapid strain of Covid-19’s Omicron variant. The order is effective from February 15 and is set to continue through at least June 15.
Those who “stubbornly” refuse to comply will face a possible monthly fine of €100, according to Italian media reports. The stiffer penalty comes in addition to €600 to €1,500 fines imposed last year for workers who decline to be immunized. People who’ve previously been infected with Covid-19 will only be exempted, based on their natural immunity, if their bout with the virus occurred within the past six months.