Slovakia will provide €200 to any unvaccinated pensioner who receives a vaccine against Covid-19. Elderly citizens who have already been vaccinated with a booster dose of the vaccine will receive an allowance of €300. The National Council passed the amendment on Thursday.

Approximately 1.29 million Slovaks, roughly less than a quarter of the country’s population, will be eligible for the contribution. The approved amendment to the relevant law differs from the original proposal. The rejected law included the distribution of €500 service vouchers.

Both vaccinated pensioners and those who plan to be vaccinated will receive a sum equal to two-fifths of the average pension. People who have completed or are about to be vaccinated with a booster dose will receive a higher allowance.

Elderly citizens currently form the largest group of COVID-19 patients in Slovak hospitals.

“I am glad that we finally found a compromise in the coalition. I believe that we will vaccinate significantly more people,” said Finance Minister Igor Matovič from the Ordinary People (Obyčajní ľudia) party.