Greek police fire tear gas during clashes with protesters in rally against COVID-19 vaccines

Protestersandpoliceclashed outside Greek parliament in Athenson Wednesdayduringarallyagainstcoronavirus vaccinations.

Demonstrators and officers could be seen exchanging blows beforepolicesent volleys ofteargasinto the crowd of about 1,500 people.

Twowatercannonsfired on the crowds to disperse the protest. One protester stood in front of thewatercannonas it was moving while another struck the vehicle.

Protesters, many of them unmasked, heldGreekflags and crosses, singing the national anthem.

It is the secondrallyin a weekagainstGreece'sCOVID-19 inoculation drive. Arallylast Wednesday, prompted by a government decision to order the mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers and nursing home staff, drew some 5,000 people. The government has suggested other groups, such as teachers, may need to be vaccinated in the fall.

One placard read "hands off our children" as the vaccination programme opened to teenagers this month.

More than 4.7 million people have been fully vaccinated in the country of 11 million, more than 41 per cent.

Infections in Greece have been rising in recent weeks, and authorities reported almost 3,000 new cases on Wednesday.

The government has eased several restrictions in the last month as the tourism season is underway in the country.