Austria suspends compulsory corona vaccination
Vaccination has actually been compulsory in Austria for a few weeks. However, penalties have not yet been pronounced. Now the entire law is being stopped for the time being, but the decision is not final yet.
Austria is suspending compulsory vaccination against the coronavirus for the time being. The obligation to vaccinate is not proportionate to the prevailing Omicron variant, said Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) on Wednesday in Vienna. The basis for the decision is the report of an expert commission. A new decision should be made in three months, said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). Should the situation make it necessary to reintroduce compulsory vaccination, the two members of the government said that it would be possible to react quickly.
The compulsory vaccination has actually been in effect since the beginning of February. From March 15, anyone who refused had to expect fines of up to 3,600 euros.
The Commission of Experts emphasizes that after a comparatively relaxed summer, an autumn characterized by new variants could follow. “The basic obligation to vaccinate as a tried and tested means of ensuring a high vaccination rate still makes sense in principle in order to avoid overloading the health system,” writes the commission. But it depends on the time of the vaccination. If you vaccinate too early, a significant part of this newly acquired immunity will fizzle out.
Implementation may no longer be necessary
In general, a later implementation of the vaccination requirement is preferable to an immediate implementation, the experts continue. In any case, there is a certain possibility “that in the light of new scientific findings, it will no longer be necessary to implement compulsory vaccination or that even better vaccines will be available.”
Austria was a pioneer in the EU with this step. Other countries only had age-specific regulations. The vaccination rate in Austria is around 70 percent. The introduction of mandatory vaccinations had practically no effect in Austria. Since the beginning of February, only 26,000 previously unprotected people have been vaccinated against the corona virus.
The omicron variant continues to ensure high infection rates. The seven-day incidence is 2,500 per 100,000 inhabitants, about twice as high as in Germany. Almost all corona restrictions were recently lifted because the situation in the clinics is considered stable.
