Austria: Mandatory vaccination of adults voted in favor by Parliament

First entry: Thursday, January 20, 2022, 10:08 pm

The Austrian Parliament has voted in favor of the general obligation to vaccinate adults, which will apply from 1 February. Fines for non-compliance amount to € 3,600.

The Austrian government’s proposal to vaccinate all citizens over the age of 18, with the exception of pregnant women and those for medical reasons should not be vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last six months, passed with 137 votes in favor, 33 against and 13 abstentions. On February 3, it is expected to be approved by the Federal Council of the country. Apart from the ruling coalition parties, many Social Democrat (SPÖ) and Liberal NEOS MPs voted in favor of the general vaccination obligation.

In the first phase, the authorities will inform the citizens with letter and from mid-March the sampling checks on the implementation of the measure will begin. Anyone who can not prove that he was vaccinated will have to prove it later in writing or pay a fine of 600 euros. If the measure does not have the desired effect, the competent authorities will make vaccination appointments for the citizens and those who do not come will be punished with a fine, which will reach 3,600 euros. A fine may be imposed on the same person up to four times a year, while the content of the general obligation may be revised in the future, if required by epidemiological circumstances.

Currently in Austria is fully vaccinated 71.6% of the population.

During today’s meeting, Health Minister Wolfgang Mukstein stressed that vaccines are safe and we need a high rate of vaccination in order to limit the spread of the virus. Referring to the false news about vaccines, he called on citizens to “challenge the myths about vaccination”.

“Terrified”, “surprised”, “shocked” and ” “On the other hand, the leader of the far right, FPÖ, Herbert Kikl, said that he was talking about” health communism “, provoking reactions from the Green MPs. Lawmakers from the ruling Greens party voted in favor of the mandate, with the exception of Eva Ernst-Tzic, who abstained because she said she did not want to vote on the proposal. “Compulsory vaccination, which none of us wanted, has unfortunately become necessary,” said SPÖ leader Pamela Reddy-Wagner.

Earlier on Thursday, the Austrian government announced a package vaccination incentives, with a raffle and each winning lottery, corresponding to a vaccination, winning a € 500 gift certificate.