Corona vaccination requirement in Austria: details on control, process, affected persons and penalties leak out
A Corona vaccination obligation is to apply in Austria from February. A first draft law now provides insights into possible regulations and also penalties.
Vienna - In Germany, there are still heated discussions - in Austria, however, the Corona vaccination obligation* is already a done deal. However, precise details of the regulation planned to take effect on February 1, 2022, have been lacking until now. These are now apparently provided by a first draft law, which Austrian media report unanimously.
Corona vaccination obligation in Austria: Booster vaccination is also obligatory
The draft law has not yet been officially published. Nevertheless, it has apparently already been leaked.
According to information from the Kurier, the Corona* vaccination requirement will apply to everyone with a main residence in Austria from the age of 14. It includes three vaccinations:
The first vaccination
The second vaccination no earlier than 14 days and no later than 42 days after the first vaccination
The third vaccination at the earliest 120 days and at the latest 270 days after the previous vaccination.
In order to know who in Austria* has already been vaccinated against Corona and to what extent, the central vaccination register and the central population register are to be consulted, the statement continues. According to heute.at, the vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca and Johnson&Johnson are approved.
Corona vaccine requirement in Austria: four groups exempt
ORF further reports that the following people are to be exempt from mandatory vaccination:
Children and adolescents under 14 years of age
Pregnant women
Convalescents six months after their positive test
Persons who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons
All others, according to the report, should receive a postal request to be vaccinated on Feb. 15 (and every three months thereafter) by a specified vaccination cutoff date. According to the report by heute.at, the first deadline will be March 15, 2022, after which the unvaccinated will be subject to penalties.
Corona vaccination obligation in Austria: These penalties threaten refusers
According to the ORF report, a fine of 600 euros every three months is planned*.
Heute.at reports unanimously that a maximum fine of 2,400 euros could be incurred annually. Those who do not pay this amount could face fines of up to 3,600 euros. Income and financial circumstances are to be used for the assessment. If then still not paid, custodial sentences can be imposed, it is said here.
The vaccination obligation is to apply accordingly for the time being to 31 January 2024. (rjs)