From the beginning of February, Corona vaccination will be compulsory in Austria. As a result, more and more people are now being immunized who, contrary to scientific findings on the benefits of vaccination, are skeptical or opposed to it. Already now the aggression rises, physicians in the inoculation roads are insulted, report medical profession. In Vienna, an attempt was even made to set fire to a small vaccination station during a Corona demonstration.
Because of safety concerns, some doctors are no longer on duty in vaccination streets, Ö1's "Mittagsjournal" reported on Thursday. It is noticeable that people no longer come primarily of their own free will, the aggressiveness has increased significantly, a doctor said.
It is also unpleasant for doctors to give medical procedures to people who do not want them, he said. At times, the situation was threatening, a female doctor told the Journal. After vaccination, some people's knees would shake, and she would think to herself, "good thing he's out now."
Medical professionals call for protection for vaccinators
The physician interviewed will no longer perform services in vaccination streets, and the female physician is considering whether to continue under these conditions. The physician demanded more protection for the personnel in vaccination lines. There is no security concept there, police presence would be desired, he stressed to Ö1.
Attempts to set fire to vaccination station during demonstration
The president of the Red Cross, Gerald Schöpfer, also confirms that aggression is increasing. There are many angry citizens who take out their anger on people who are not responsible for anything, he states. The Vienna Medical Association also reported higher levels of aggression. In the federal capital, an attempt was even made to set fire to a small vaccination center during a Corona demonstration.
Different experiences in the provinces
A survey by the Austria Press Agency showed different experiences in the individual federal provinces. The "phenomenon" that both the doctors and other staff are mobbed or insulted is also known in Styria, says for example Harald Eitner, responsible for the Styrian vaccination and testing streets. There have also been police interventions, but so far there have been no assaults.
In the Carinthian vaccination streets, there have been "no serious incidents" so far, according to state press spokesman Gerd Kurath. Some people are indeed foul-mouthed, this has already been reported by the Red Cross, but so far the security has not had to intervene. Security staff have also been present in Lower Austria's vaccination streets for some time.
Daily police patrols in Tyrolean vaccination centers
In Tyrol, measures have been taken in close cooperation with the police to ensure the safety of both staff and visitors. In addition, vaccination centers are patrolled daily by the police. The Red Cross of Upper Austria reported that the mood in the vaccination streets had become more aggressive in recent days: "You can feel that the climate is not always friendly." The tone was "flippant", people were becoming more impatient. However, nothing is known of any attacks.
In Salzburg, where the majority of vaccinations are carried out by general practitioners, nothing has come through from the doctors' offices about aggressive vaccinators, according to the Salzburg Medical Association. The vaccination lines of the Red Cross in Salzburg have also been quiet recently, said spokeswoman Roberta Thanner.
Safety concept for vaccination lines
In Burgenland, talks are currently underway for a safety concept in the vaccination streets, but final results are not yet available, according to the state's coronavirus coordination staff. So far, there have been only a few incidents in which staff have been accosted.