The idea of compulsory vaccination against coronavirus is not yet on the government's agenda, however, anti-epidemic measures will depend on the epidemiological situation, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros said on Thursday.

The minister did not rule out the possibility of the fifth wave of the pandemic hitting Croatia if the country failed to reach the necessary vaccination rate.

“We have been emphasising all along that vaccination is voluntary, and we have not considered the vaccination mandate. Since the onset of the pandemic we have been saying that all the measures are on the table, and that epidemiological developments shape our choice of the measures,” Beros told a news conference after the government’s meeting today.

He recalled that in Europe there are warnings that if a certain vaccination rate is not achieved, the fifth wave of the pandemic is possible in February.

“No one can know what awaits us so I cannot completely rule out the introduction of mandatory vaccination,” Beros said, admitting that mandatory vaccination could deepen the divisions in society and provoke resistance.

“Therefore, let us get vaccinated to deter a possible fifth wave and the emergence of new variants (of the virus).”

Croatia has seen a decline in new coronavirus numbers over recent days, which the minister associated with more and more people getting inoculated and with the introduction of the COVID certificate mandate.

Although he expressed hope for a more serene Christmas season, the minister called for exercising caution.