COVID-19 vaccine appointments for ages 60 plus spiked in Greece on Tuesday after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced plans to make the vaccine mandatory for that age group.

As Greece tries to curb another surge in coronavirus cases, Mitsotakis said that he would impose a 100 euro ($114 USD) fine on every individual over the age of 60 who was not vaccinated. He said the measures would begin on January 16 and fines would be applied monthly.

But the measures yielded an immediate impact, with more than 6,000 appointments being made on Tuesday by people aged over-60, a considerable increase from last week’s average of 2,600 appointments a day.

The Greek prime minister said it was a difficult but ultimately necessary decision in an effort to protect approximately 520,000 elderly Greeks who remain unvaccinated. 

“(The decision) tortured me, but I feel a heavy responsibility in standing next to those most vulnerable, even if it might fleetingly displease them,” Mitsotakis said, according to Reuters.

A backlash against the measures is expected, but Mitsotakis stands by his decision, claiming it will save lives. 

“We are focusing our efforts on protection of our fellow citizens and for this reason their vaccination will be mandatory from now on,” he said.

Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting that Greeks 60 years and older who have not been vaccinated must book an appointment for their first dose by mid-January, or else they will face the 100 euro monthly fine. The Greek government has not yet shared details about how this would be enforced. 

Almost 63 percent of Greece’s approximately 11 million population is fully vaccinated.