Everybody over the age of 50 in Italy will have to have a Covid vaccine as the government makes it compulsory in a bid to tackle the surge in cases.
Italy, which was hit badly at the start of the first Covid wave in Europe, and now has more than 138,000 deaths from the virus, is to impose compulsory vaccines following a cabinet meeting.
The measure, which is amongst the strictest in Europe on vaccinations, is immediately effective and will run until June 15.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government had already made vaccination mandatory for teachers and health workers, and since October last year all employees have had to be vaccinated or show a negative test before entering the workplace.
Refusal results in suspension from work without pay, but not dismissal.
Wednesday's decree toughens this up for workers over the age of 50 by removing the option of taking a test rather than vaccination. It was not immediately clear what the sanction would be for those flouting the rule.
"Today's measures aim to keep our hospitals functioning well and at the same time keep open schools and business activities," Draghi told the cabinet, according to his spokesperson.
Ministers from the right-wing League issued a statement distancing themselves from the over-50 vaccine rule, calling it "without scientific foundation, considering that the absolute majority of those hospitalised with Covid are well over 60."
Elsewhere in Europe, Austria has announced plans to make vaccination mandatory for those over 14 from next month, while in Greece it will be compulsory for over-60s from January 16.
The UK has confirmed a further 194,747 new Covid cases on Wednesday, with worries growing over the number of people having to isolate and miss work.
The figures also confirmed 334 people died within 28 days of a positive test. It is a huge 696% increase on yesterday's deaths and a 586% increase on the 57 deaths recorded Wednesday last week.
A total of 15,659 patients are in hospital with Covid in England - a figure that's up 49% week-on-week.
It is the highest level of hospitalisations since February 17, 2021.
