All health workers in Italy must be vaccinated against the coronavirus, the Italian government said on Wednesday.
Italy has stepped up vaccination efforts after some hospital staff refused to receive vaccine doses.
Italy has so far counted more than 109 deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, while the Government's decision to force certain categories of workers to receive the vaccine has been criticized.
In the decision of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, it is stated that health workers, including pharmacists, are obliged to receive the vaccine. However, those who refuse to do so may be suspended from work without pay for a full year.
"The purpose of this measure is to protect as much as possible both the medical and pharmaceutical professions and those who are in environments where they can be directly exposed to infection," said the Italian Government's media statement.
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Italy makes vaccination compulsory for people over 50 years old
Italy is one of the hardest hit countries in the world as a result of COVID-19.
This state has registered 23.904 positive cases of COVID-19 and 467 victims in the last 24 hours alone, according to data presented today by the Ministry of Health.
