Greece to impose monthly fine for unvaccinated people 60 or older

• The money collected will go to Greek hospitals fighting the pandemic, per Bloomberg.

The big picture: The vaccine mandate is the first in the European Union targeting a specific age group and comes as vaccinations among the 60 and older population lag in Greece.

• Approximately 520,000 people over the age of 60 have not yet received the vaccine and Greece’s vaccination ratio in this age group is around 83% compared to Portugal’s 98%, Mitsotakis said, per Bloomberg.

What he's saying: "We are focusing our efforts on protection of our fellow citizens and for this reason their vaccination will be mandatory from now on," Mitsotakis told a Cabinet meeting, according to Reuters.

• The decision "tortured me, but I feel a heavy responsibility in standing next to those most vulnerable, even if it might fleetingly displease them."

Syriza, Greece's main opposition party, criticized the fine as excessive, Reuters reports.

• The average monthly pension in Greece is 730 euros (about $830), per Reuters.

Go deeper: Greece to add restrictions on unvaccinated as COVID cases jump