Obligatory COVID vaccines not on govt agenda - Costa

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 3 - Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa said Friday that making vaccination for COVID-19 obligatory was not on the government's agenda at the moment.
    In October the government extended the scope of the Green Pass health certificate, which shows that a person is vaccinated for COVID-19, has recovered from it in the last six months or tested negative in the last few days, making it obligatory to access places of work in Italy.
    Furthermore, a Super Green Pass system is coming into force which will exclude people who are not vaccinated for the coronavirus from a wide range of cultural, social and leisure activities, such as being able to go to a cinema, theatre or sports event or sit at a table inside a bar or restaurant.
    Although Italy has suffered a major upswing in COVID contagion in recent weeks, the situation is not as bad as in many other parts of Europe.
    "Today making the vaccine obligatory is not on the agenda," Costa said.
    "We have decided to establish a relationship of trust with citizens, which has given excellent results.
    "We are second in Europe for (the proportion of) people vaccinated.
    "Italy has already addressed the obligatory (vaccine) issue.
    "We were the first to introduce it for health workers and from December 15 this (obligation) will be extended to police and school personnel.
    "Subsequently we will evaluate the epidemic data.
    "We are ready for further assessments, but at the moment we will continue as we are".
    Earlier this week European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said that it was time to think about making COVID vaccinations compulsory and Premier Mari Draghi has said in the past that he would be in favour of this. (ANSA).