Austria Ends Vaccine Mandate

[web.de] Austria is suspending compulsory vaccination against the coronavirus for the time being.  The obligation to vaccinate is not proportionate to the prevailing Omicron variant, said Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) on Wednesday in Vienna.  The basis for the decision is the report of an expert commission.  A new decision should be made in three months, said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens).  Should the situation make it necessary to reintroduce compulsory vaccination, one will be able to react quickly, said the two members of the government.

The compulsory vaccination has actually been in effect since the beginning of February.  From March 15, anyone who refused had to expect fines of up to 3,600 euros.

A commission of experts recommends compulsory vaccination – but at the right time

The expert commission emphasizes that after a comparatively relaxed summer, an autumn characterized by new variants could follow.  "The basic obligation to vaccinate as a tried and tested means of ensuring a high vaccination rate still makes sense in principle in order to avoid overloading the health system," writes the commission.  But it depends on the time of the vaccination.  If you vaccinate too early, a significant part of this newly acquired immunity will fizzle out.

In general, a later implementation of the vaccination requirement is preferable to an immediate implementation, the experts continue.  In any case, there is a certain possibility "that in the light of new scientific findings, it will no longer be necessary to implement compulsory vaccination or that even better vaccines will be available."

Austria marched EU-wide in terms of compulsory vaccination

Austria was a pioneer in the EU with this step.  Other countries only had age-specific regulations.  The vaccination rate in Austria is around 70 percent.  The introduction of mandatory vaccinations had practically no effect in Austria.  Since the beginning of February, only 26,000 previously unprotected people have been vaccinated against the corona virus.

Four days after the end of almost all corona restrictions, the number of new infections in Austria climbed to a new high on Wednesday.  As the authorities reported, 47,795 new cases were recorded within one day.  Taking into account the number of inhabitants, this would correspond to a figure of around 450,000 in Germany.  The last seven-day incidence was 2,500 per 100,000 inhabitants, about twice as high as in Germany.  The situation in the clinics remains stable.  (dpa/hau)