German lawmakers reject mandatory COVID shots for over 60s

BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers have rejected a bill requiring all people aged 60 and over in the country to be vaccinated against coronavirus. It was a compromise solution that the German government had hoped would get a parliamentary majority. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his health minister originally called for a vaccine mandate to apply to all adults in Germany, but some government lawmakers and most of the opposition had balked at the idea. The vote prompted joy from anti-vaccine activists. They marched through Berlin’s government district banging drums, blowing horns and carrying banners with slogans such as “We are the red line” or simply “No.” The number of daily infections as declined recently in Germany. Just over 200,000 new cases were reported Thursday.