Vaccination compulsory in Austria
Created: 2/5/2022Updated: 2/5/2022 12:12 p.m
Vaccination is now compulsory in Austria.
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
In Germany it is still being discussed, in Austria it is now in force: the corona vaccination.
Fines are soon to be imposed.
Since Saturday, practically all residents over the age of 18 have had to be vaccinated in Austria - the strictest regulation in the European Union.
After a transitional period until mid-March, those who refuse to vaccinate face severe fines.
Other European countries have so far only decided to make vaccination compulsory for certain professional groups.
In Germany, too, a general obligation to vaccinate has been discussed for weeks.
The Bundestag is expected to decide on this in March.
There are exceptions
In the neighboring country, the law passed by parliament provides for exceptions for pregnant women and for people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons, as well as for those who have recovered.
All unvaccinated people should now receive a letter asking them to be immunized against the virus.
Anyone who is then unable to produce a certificate by a vaccination deadline set by the government should receive a penal order.
Austria has almost nine million inhabitants.
Almost 70 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.
In Germany, the figure is a good 74 percent.
The new compulsory vaccination should be checked with random samples, for example as part of traffic controls - but not immediately, but only from mid-March onwards.
In the event of violations, there are penalties in a shortened procedure of up to 600 euros, in the end up to 3600 euros.
Lottery is postponed
The government in Vienna actually wanted to start a "vaccination fleet" for all vaccinated people as an incentive.
Vouchers over 500 euros, which can be redeemed in shops, restaurants, hotels, cultural and sports facilities, were to be raffled off.
Every tenth vaccinated person would have had the chance of a voucher.
However, the project was shelved.
The public broadcaster (ORF), which was supposed to organize the lottery, expressed organizational and legal concerns.
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Meanwhile, eight people have been reported because they are said to have obtained convalescence certificates with forged evidence.
Two infected people had given swab samples from relatives and acquaintances as their own samples.
The incidents happened in December, as reported by the police in Upper Austria.
dpa