ATHENS – An elite group of Greek firefighters appeal against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations they don't want to take was rejected by the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State.

The finding means the public safety workers who are part of a civil defense and disaster response until (EMAK) lost their petition to to overturn the order of the New Democracy government that's struggling to get all public workers inoculated.

A decision handed down by the high court refers to "…pressing reasons of public interest, which aim to ensure the uninterrupted and unhindered operation of special units of the Fire Brigade, which are responsible for dealing with disasters,” said the business newspaper Naftemporiki.

The chief of Greece's fire brigade gave the order for the vaccinations in the spring but it has been fought by some of the workers as Greece has a small but insistent contingent of anti-vaxxers who think it's not safe or effective or part of a conspiracy to control their DNA.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been unable to convince a minority of health care workers to be vaccinated either but said he would consider making shots a requirement if not enough comply.