The Ministry of Health is currently working on the final version of the Law on Compulsory Vaccination. However, numerous details have already leaked. For example, the mandatory vaccination should apply to 7.7 million people aged 14 and over who are resident in Austria. Most of them have already been vaccinated at least once – 1.4 million but not yet. The application of compulsion to enforce the compulsory vaccination is explicitly excluded in the draft law that has been submitted to the APA.
In addition to children under 14, pregnant women and people who are not allowed to be vaccinated for medical reasons, as well as those who have recovered up to six months after the infection, are exempt from the obligation to vaccinate.
The obligation includes three vaccinations. People who become infected with the coronavirus between vaccinations do not have to have the follow-up vaccination until after 180 days.
No confirmation from the ministry
The vaccination requirement applies from February 1, 2022. On February 15, 2022, all unvaccinated persons receive mail from the Minister of Health with the request to vaccinate, from March 15 the first penalties will be sent by the district administrative authority. Those who refuse the vaccination can be fined up to 600 euros. The money raised should flow into the hospitals.
The ministry has not yet confirmed the details reported in the media. The draft will be developed together with the constitution ministry and with the involvement of the opposition parties SPÖ and NEOS and will be assessed during the week, according to a spokeswoman.