Compulsory vaccination: Austria is racing into chaos – that must be a warning to us
It should go quickly. Real quick. Several top politicians have warned in the past few days when it comes to deciding for or against compulsory vaccination. For example, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP), Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) or the Association of Towns and Municipalities. There are – in some cases – very obvious political-tactical but also good medical reasons. But if we look to Austria, it becomes clear: speed, even hectic pace, is out of place, especially with this topic.
In the neighboring country, the obligation to have a Covid vaccination should actually come into force on February 1, and from March 15 fines of up to 3600 euros will be imposed for non-compliance. Actually! As soon as the corresponding draft law has been written, the plan is already shaky. Ironically, the organization responsible for implementation, “Elga”, was apparently insufficiently involved. The “Elga” chefs put the brakes on and name April 1st as the earliest possible date.
Compulsory vaccination: Many problems and concerns in Austria
The Alpine republic is already a significant step ahead of us and can fall back on an existing infrastructure: because in Austria, unlike in other countries, a register has existed since 2020. In other words: There is already a lot of experience, especially with data protection.
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Nevertheless, shortly before the planned start of compulsory vaccination, further problems arise, and significant concerns are expressed: data protection officials even see “several taboos being broken”. The project will introduce a “kind of raster search”. The presumption of innocence being turned into suspicion of guilt is just one of their concerns.
Vaccination refusals could buy their way out
But the arguments also seem to have not heard enough of others in Vienna when the law was drafted. Hans Peter Doskozil, Governor of Burgenland, comparable to a German Prime Minister, believes that those who refuse to be vaccinated will simply buy themselves out of duty. The measure would also partially fail. The SPÖ politician also fears that the administrative apparatus will be overwhelmed if the compulsory vaccination is retrospectively chosen by the courts to be unconstitutional.
Some medical professionals in Austria see the compulsory vaccination as critical from an epidemiological point of view, after all it can be assumed that the population will have an as yet unknown level of immunity after the omicron wave. The duty would also be too late or unnecessary.
Compulsory vaccination means deep encroachment on fundamental rights
All of these difficulties and arguments are so relevant to the implementation countries that German politicians should see this as a warning. Here, care comes before speed. The top politicians’ doubts are palpable. Even Söder said when asked whether the vaccination is actually going to come: “I admit, I am also a little insecure.”
One reason why the opposition is pushing the gas pedal so hard is easy to see through: They see a welcome opportunity to put Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) under considerable pressure after weeks in office. Because Scholz had announced in late autumn that the compulsory vaccination should apply to everyone in Germany from “the beginning of March”. Of course, it is up to the opposition to stand on the feet of the government and especially the chancellor. And of course Scholz has to be measured by his words.
But that must not lead to a half-baked law coming out under time pressure. Not only because corona deniers, lateral thinkers and vaccination refusals are already lurking for it. Britta Haßelmann, correctly emphasized. “It’s not an easy decision,” she said.
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