Compulsory vaccinations in Austria: 90 percent target
This Thursday, the parliament in Vienna will decide on general vaccination. Anyone who refuses the prick will soon be asked to pay.
The plan was announced by the Austrian federal government in November last year, the draft law is to go through parliament this Thursday and will apply to adults whose first place of residence is in the country from the beginning of February: Within just three months, the Alpine republic then introduced compulsory corona vaccination . This makes Austria the first country in the EU.
“The obligation to vaccinate does not come suddenly, but in phases,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer from the conservative ÖVP on ORF television. “Fears are taken seriously” and anyone who has doubts should “clarify them with doctors they trust”. The vaccination situation is very similar in Germany and Austria: around 72 percent of the population has been vaccinated at least twice. With the new obligation, the neighboring country is aiming for a quota of 90 percent.
Austria divides the introduction and enforcement of compulsory vaccination into three phases: the law comes into force on February 1st, the population is informed by letter and asked not to be vaccinated to get the “sting”, as they say in Austria.
According to the Ministry of Health, “Phase 2” will start on March 15: the police will monitor compliance with the vaccination requirement. This takes place, for example, in the course of normal monitoring of compliance with corona rules or during traffic controls. Anyone not vaccinated will be notified. Exceptions are children under 18, pregnant women and citizens who cannot receive a vaccination for medical reasons. You can still avoid the fixed amount of the fine of – depending on income – up to 600 euros by getting vaccinated within two weeks and dying to the authorities.
If you don’t do this, you will be asked to pay. In the event of an objection or refusal, due process will be initiated, with a penalty of up to 3,600 euros. In addition, after comparison with the already existing central vaccination register, those who have not been vaccinated are asked by letter with a “reminder letter” to catch up on their vaccination by a certain “vaccination date”. Anyone who pays instead of being vaccinated can be asked to pay a total of 2400 euros in one year.
“We don’t want the third phase,” says Chancellor Nehammer. He can ensure that the target 90 percent can be achieved even without them. If this is not the case, those who refuse receive an appointment to be vaccinated as a “vaccination date” by prescription, which is tantamount to a summons. Failure to appear will result in further penalties.
Contrary to some fears of opponents of vaccination, according to the law, no prison sentences are imposed if the payment is not made. There is also no form of “forced vaccination”. The vaccination requirement expires on January 31, 2024.
The black-green federal government successfully involved two opposition parties in the preparations. The MPs of the social democratic SPÖ and the left-liberal “Neo” want to agree to the vaccination requirement with a large majority. The right-wing populist FPÖ continues to massively oppose it.