Czech Republic Abandons Plan for Compulsory COVID-19 Injections for Older Adults and Certain Professions

Thousands of anti-mandate protestors rallied in the Czech Republic to fight compulsory inoculations in their country.

In Prague, residents voiced their outrage over the idea of mandated COVID-19 jabs for certain groups and professions.

Thousands of people have marched through the Czech Republic’s capital to protest against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for certain groups and professions. https://t.co/12p7SVcyEp

— ABC News Health (@ABCNewsHealth) January 18, 2022

🗣 – 🇨🇿 #Czech Republic Another rally, this time took place in Prague.
The reason is the refusal of compulsory vaccination. pic.twitter.com/X5m1rXjxYl

— Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil (@ivan_8848) January 16, 2022

ABC News stated:

The protesters gathered at Wenceslas Square in central Prague to question the effectiveness of the current vaccines and reject the vaccination of children before marching through the capital, chanting “Freedom, freedom.”

Prague’s protest followed similar but smaller demonstrations in several Czech cities on Saturday.

The previous government released an order in early December, making vaccination mandatory for the 60 and over age group, as well as medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and medical students.

The order is due to take effect in March, but it still might end up being overturned.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ administration was replaced later in December by a new government formed by five parties that won October’s parliamentary election, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Czech Republic residents fighting for medical freedom scored a victory on Wednesday when the new government announced COVID-19 jabs will NOT become mandatory.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated, “we do not want to deepen the rifts in society.”

The government suspended the planned COVID-19 jab mandate for citizens over 60 and healthcare workers. It would have gone into effect in March.

https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1483833348480983042

Meanwhile in the Czech Republic 🇨🇿

The domino effect is now happening… pic.twitter.com/rZGuVZjYt9

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) January 19, 2022

Breaking News:
Czech Republic just decided that there will NOT be any general compulsory vaccination in Czech Republic. The Prime Minister is worried to divide the society any further. #CzechRepublic #VaccineMandates #Vaccines #Covid #Impfpflicht pic.twitter.com/GLTdx00oDf

— Kate G. (@drcathy_g) January 19, 2022

🇨🇿 Czech dropping the idea of mandatory vaccination!! #CzechRepublic
"However, we do not see reasons for compulsory vaccination, we do not want to deepen trenches in the society" https://t.co/LWGU7vluCX pic.twitter.com/FJxvrGfIvs

— Oana Trintrin (@OTrintrin) January 19, 2022

ABC News commented:

The Czech Republic’s new government on Wednesday dismissed the previous government’s plan to require older adults and people in some professions to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The previous government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, released an order in early December, making vaccination mandatory for people age 60 and over as well as medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and medical students.

It was due to take effect in March. But Babis’ administration was replaced later in December by a new government formed by five parties and led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

“We’ve agreed that vaccination against COVID-19 won’t be mandatory,” Fiala said, stressing that his government still considers the vaccines “the best tool to fight COVID-19.”

Opponents of a vaccine mandate had staged several protests in Prague and elsewhere in the country.

Czech Republic’s center-right government dropped the proposal of compulsory COVID-19 inoculations despite the country breaking record-high COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

As Prague Morning noted:

The number of new confirmed COVID cases soared to 28,469 in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, the highest figure seen since the coronavirus hit the country nearly two years ago.

Screening increased this week with the introduction of twice-weekly tests at all workplaces. 128,000 tests were performed on Tuesday, 29,000 more than a week ago.

Experts say up to 50,000 cases a day could be recorded in the coming weeks due to a surge in the Omicron variant of the virus.

Could this be another European example of learning to live with COVID-19? 

Sweden dropped its negative COVID-19 test entry requirement, while England rolled back most restrictions.