Austria ends mandatory vaccination

24-06-2022

Central Europe

Austria ended its vaccine mandate for the corona virus four months after becoming the first EU country to make the injections mandatory.

The controversial law was introduced in February but never enforced. In March, the legislation was suspended because its "encroachment of fundamental rights" could no longer be justified by the danger posed by the Covid virus.

According to the Austrian health minister, Johannes Rauch, "Omicron has changed the rules". Besides, even if vaccination refusal is punishable by law, the number of people willing to be vaccinated would not chang. In addition, Rauch said that the obligation to immunize and the debate about it in society have caused "deep rifts". "These run through families, clubs and companies." This reports the Austrian daily Krone Zeitung.

Building bridges

According to Rauch, the vaccination obligationwas introduced under different cirumstances. At the time, Delta was the dominant Covid variant that caused high hospitalization rates. "The intensive care units were at the limit of their capacity." The minister said that he supported compulsory vaccination at the time, "but Omikron has changed the rules". This reports the Austrian news portal ORF.

Since the controversial law will be abolished, it is time to "fill the trenches and build bridges", Rauch said.

According to Rauch, the government wants to present an "overall package of measures" for "living with Covid". The package should offer protection for the vulnerable and at the same time make society able to get out of a "disaster mode" - towards a "phase of living with the virus".

On Thursday, a motion to abolish the vaccination requirement will be submitted at the National Council meeting. This should be decided in July. The measure is currently suspended by regulation until August 31.

An Austrian police officer checks a driver's digital vaccination certificate on a smartphone during a traffic control at the Südring in Klagenfurt, Austria. Photo AFP, Gert Eggenberger

Austria makes vaccination compulsory

Austria will introduce a general compulsory vaccination on February 1st, 2022. In addition, the whole of Austria will go into lockdown from Monday to reverse the sharp increase in the number of corona infections.

Persons display a banner reading 'Nursing staff say no to compulsory vaccination' during a demonstration against the measures of the Austrian government. Photo EPA, Christian Bruna

Compulsory vaccination in Austria: how will that work in the future?

Austria is the first European country to decide on a general vaccination obligation because of corona. Such mandatory injections have been in place in Europe for other diseases for some time, however. When violating these requirements, there are usually fines.