EU should consider making Covid-19 jabs mandatory, says von der Leyen

The EU’s 27 health ministers are scheduled to assess the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus next Tuesday

Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis

The chief of the European Commission has said EU nations should consider making Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory because too many people still refuse to have them voluntarily.

The EU-wide vaccination rate is 66%, and unexpectedly high case surges in much of the 27-nation bloc have led many member countries to renew mask and testing requirements, and to take other steps to curb infections.