Many Austrians are up in arms against the text and demonstrate almost every weekend in their tens of thousands.
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This is a first in the European Union. The Austrian Parliament adopted, Thursday, January 20, the law on compulsory vaccination for all adults, despite virulent opposition in the street.
The project, announced in November to boost a faltering immunization campaign, was approved by a large section of the political class (137 for, 33 against out of 183 seats). The measure will come into effect on February 4.
The objective, insists the government, is not to impose vaccination by force or to multiply the financial sanctions. These may range from 600 to 3,600 euros but will be lifted if the offender is vaccinated within two weeks.
“Vaccination is the chance for our society to achieve lasting and continuous freedom, without the virus restricting us”, Conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer told the press before the start of the session. It is “a subject that is the subject of a very intense and passionate debate”, he acknowledged.
In addition to the Greens, coalition partners of the Conservatives, the leaders of the Social Democratic and Liberal parties had given their support. Only the extreme right is opposed to it, in the name of the protection of individual freedoms.
Many Austrians are up in arms against the text and demonstrate almost every weekend in their tens of thousands. In this tense climate, the government fears overflows and announced this week the establishment of “protective perimeters” around health establishments, vaccination and test centers.