Austria’s hard fist to fight the fourth wave of Covid. The increase in infections in the country and the low vaccination rate (about 66% of the 8.9 million Austrians are fully vaccinated) have prompted the government of Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg to decide on the vaccination obligation in 2022. Austria it is the first state of the European Union, and one of the few in the world, where the vaccine will no longer be optional.
The country is now in total lockdown for vaccinated and unvaccinated, and will last at least until December 12th included. But the government is working to study the details of the bill that will oblige all Austrians to immunize themselves from 1 February 2022: the age of the citizens involved, exemptions accepted, penalties for those who do not respect the law. From what has emerged, a very strong first decision has already been taken. The Ministry of Health will send an invitation to the no vax to be immunized every three months. In the event of non-compliance, a fine of 600 euros is triggered each time, which becomes a super-fine of 3,600 euros for those who do not pay it within the established terms.
Who is exempt
Children under 14, pregnant women, those who have recovered for less than 180 days and other people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt from the obligation. Women who have given birth and boys who turn 14 have one month to receive the first dose.
The steps of the compulsory vaccination
The vaccination obligation consists of three steps: the first vaccination is mandatory starting from February 1, 2022, the second vaccination no earlier than 14 and no later than 42 days from the first dose, and the third vaccination (booster) no earlier than 120 days and no later than 270 from the first vaccination. The vaccines recognized by the Austrian health authorities will be Pfizer / BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Vaccination will remain mandatory until at least January 31, 2024.
Greece: over 60 will be fined one hundred euros a month until they agree to undergo the injection
The coordination between the 27 countries on common anti Covid measures does not arrive, so the individual states are moving independently. On the same line as Austria is Greece which, starting from January 16, 2022, has decided to impose the vaccination obligation, but only on citizens who have reached the age of 60. Also in this case, those who refuse the administration will have to pay a fine of one hundred euros per month until they agree to undergo the injection. The funds raised from the fines will be donated to Greek hospitals against the pandemic. “It is not a punishment, I would call it a health tax,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Germany and the measures under study for the No vax
Germany plans to administer up to 30 million doses of the vaccine by Christmas. Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz would also have said he was in favor of the vaccine requirement for all against Covid-19. Scholz would have said that as a member of the Bundestag he will approve this plan if there is a vote.