Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg recently announced that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate will affect virtually every single person in the country.
This nationwide mandate is expected to come into effect starting Feb. 1, 2022. Exemptions will only be granted to those who are unable to get vaccinated due to medical reasons. The age from which people will be required to get the vaccine has yet to be determined.
To properly coerce Austrians into taking the experimental and deadly COVID-19 vaccine, the government is preparing to fine people up to 3,600 euros ($4,079) for remaining unvaccinated. The fine will increase to 7,200 euros ($8,150) for those who have already been fined twice.
Once the vaccine mandate goes into effect next year, authorities will first offer people who have not taken the vaccine an appointment to get their first doses. Penalties will be placed on people who reject the offer.
COVID-19 booster vaccines will also be made mandatory. According to Minister for the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler, fully vaccinated Austrians who refuse to take booster doses will be fined up to 1,500 euros ($1,700). "The plan is not only for people to take the first shot but that they really make it to full immunization," said Edtstadler.
"For a long time the consensus in this country was that we don't want a vaccine mandate," said Schallenberg. "In spite of months of persuasion, we have not managed to convince enough people to be vaccinated." (Related: VACCINE MARTIAL LAW IS HERE: Austria announces total police state lockdown, mandatory covid "vaccination" for entire population.)
Schallenberg claimed the only recourse left for the government is to make vaccinations mandatory. "We don't want a fifth wave, we don't want a sixth or a seventh wave," he said.
Despite over 66 percent of the country being fully vaccinated, the COVID-19 vaccine does not seem to have protected the country from its most powerful wave of coronavirus. Daily infections are still around 9,000 after peaking above 15,000 in November.
Other European countries to mandate vaccinations soon
While Austria is the first western European country to make sweeping COVID-19 vaccination mandates, it is unlikely to be the last to force its citizens to get vaccinated.
Multiple European nations have already expressed their interest in mandating vaccinations for their citizens.
Greece has announced that everyone in the country 60 years old and older must be fully vaccinated by mid-January next year or be fined 100 euros ($113) for every month they remain unvaccinated.
"It's not a punishment," claimed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "I would say it is the price for health. It is also an act of justice for the vaccinated. It's not right that they are deprived of health care services because others stubbornly refuse to do the obvious."
In Germany, left-wing politician Olaf Scholz, who is set to replace Angela Merkel as the country's chancellor, has stated his support for mandatory vaccinations.
Scholz was recorded pledging his support for a cross-party initiative to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory during a meeting with the leaders of Germany's 16 states. He also said he supports requiring customers at non-essential stores to present proof of vaccination before being allowed entry.
"As a delegate, I would certainly vote in favor, to make that very clear," said Scholz during the meeting. According to German media, Scholz wants to propose a general vaccine mandate that will come into effect by the end of Feb. 2022.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has called on all member nations of the European Union to come together and consider making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory.
"It is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now – how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the European Union," said von der Leyen.
EU member states are expected to discuss vaccine mandates during an upcoming meeting of the bloc's health ministers.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine mandates all over the world by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.
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