Thousands protest against COVID vaccine in UK

Thousands of people took to the street on Wednesday protesting against the mandatory use of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In most countries as we speak, the vaccine has been enforced on citizens by the government and it has attracted several criticisms.

While the vaccine is to control the spread of the virus, some are of the opinion that the vaccine should not be made compulsory but voluntary.

In April, thousands of people descended on central London for an anti-lockdown protest against Covid jabs and vaccine passports even though shops and pubs have reopened.

The Unite for Freedom rally saw huge crowds marching and shouting demands for “medical freedom”.

Signs saying “freedom is non-negotiable” were held up as people let off brightly coloured smoke flares.

Activists also carried giant inflatable syringes to protest what they called “coerced vaccinations”.

Last month Austria became the first western European country to re-impose a lockdown for those who are vaccinated, which ends on Sunday. But restrictions will continue for unvaccinated people.

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The protesters, backed by the far-right Freedom Party, are against the government’s decision to make Covid-19 jabs mandatory from February.

The country is the first in the EU to adopt such a measure, which applies to all residents older than 14, except in the case of a dispensation for health reasons.

Opponents say people should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether to be vaccinated. The government says nobody will be vaccinated by force but those who refuse the jab will receive fines of up to €3,600 (£3.070; $4,000).

Protesters carried banners saying “No to compulsory vaccination” and chanted “We are the people,” and “resistance”. Smaller demonstrations were held in the cities of Klagenfurt and Linz.