The Pensioners' Trade Union (SUH) said on Thursday that it was against making  Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for  citizens above the age of 65, state agency Hina said, citing their press release.

The SUH union issued a press release on this topic today after Health Minister Vili Beros said two days ago that the authorities were considering the possibility of introducing mandatory vaccination against coronavirus for senior citizens since the Covid mortality rate is higher in older age cohorts.

The average age of the deceased whose death is connected with the coronavirus infection is 76.2 in Croatia, and therefore the minister believes that mandatory inoculation should be introduced for older citizens.

However, the vaccination rate of Croatians aged above 60 is relatively high: 78.5 percent. On the other hand, only Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia Latvia and Estonia in the EU have lower vaccination rates in these age cohorts in comparison to Croatia, the union says.

SUH called on the authorities to refrain from any coercive measures for senior citizens.

The mandatory vaccination will be an act of discrimination based on age, the union says, adding that it holds that it is the right of every individual to choose inoculation and the type of vaccine, with full responsibility for one’s own health and for the protection of health of other citizens.