Enlarge image
From February, a general obligation to vaccinate will apply in Austria
Photo:
Joerg Carstensen / dpa
The plans of the conservative-green government of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to introduce compulsory vaccination are becoming more concrete.
The government has presented a corresponding bill.
more on the subject
Corona crisis: Would the general obligation to vaccinate be unconstitutional? By Dietmar Hipp
Debate about omicron and incidences: Leave it with the vaccination requirementThe SPIEGEL editorial by Lothar Gorris
Fighting pandemics: This is the status of the dispute over compulsory vaccination by Jean-Pierre Ziegler and Dietmar Hipp
"We will decide on compulsory vaccination as planned," said Federal Chancellor Nehammer, who presented the details of the project together with Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein in Vienna.
According to this, all people over the age of 18 residing in Austria should be vaccinated.
Vaccination remains voluntary for young people between the ages of 14 and 17.
Originally, the government only wanted to exempt children under the age of 14 from compulsory vaccination.
Pregnant women should be exempt from the obligation
There should be a transition phase until mid-March.
During this time, all households should be informed in writing about the measure.
From then on, vaccination status checks would be carried out, said Health Minister Mückstein (Greens), including in road traffic.
A fine is then imposed on those who are not vaccinated – the penalty ranges from 600 to 3600 euros.
It is said to be expensive, for example, if people who refuse to vaccinate do not comply with a vaccination request and allow a vaccination appointment to pass.
more on the subject
Benefits and risks: What you should know about corona vaccinations for pregnant womenBy Irene Berres
There is an exception to the compulsory vaccination for pregnant women.
Also excluded are people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Those who have recovered who were infected with Sars-CoV-2 are exempt from duty for six months.
The technical recording of the exceptions in the national vaccination register will probably not be possible before April at the earliest.
The law could be passed in the National Council next week.
A simple majority is required for this, which is achieved with the votes of the governing coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens.
Austria would then be the first country in the EU to counter the spread of the corona virus with compulsory vaccination.
Is this how society regains its freedom?
"It's not about a fight between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated," said Nehammer.
Rather, it is about society as a whole being able to live in freedom again.
Nehammer tested positive himself in January.
Thanks to his vaccination, however, he always had the confidence not to have to go to the hospital, he said.
According to his own statements, the chancellor recovered quickly from his infection.
From within the opposition ranks, only the right-wing FPÖ voiced criticism of the government's plans.
The FPÖ categorically rejects compulsory vaccination.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets again on Saturday in Vienna against the planned compulsory vaccination.
According to the police, around 27,000 people followed the protest call, which was supported by the FPÖ, among others.
The federal government has meanwhile again classified Austria as a high-risk area due to the high number of corona infections.
Warnings are given against tourist trips to Austria.
vki/dpa/AFP