Euro News reports
The Austrian government presented revised plans for its proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate, changing the age limit to all residents 18 and over and creating a set of opportunities for the citizens to comply with a law that is to become Europe’s first.
In early December, the Austrian government produced a first draft of the law, calling for the measure to be introduced in February and foreseeing fines of up to 3,600 euros for people who flout it.
Key aspects of the plan remain in the final version, which the government aims to have parliament approve on Thursday, but officials said consultations with two opposition parties and others showed the need for significant changes to details.
“Without obligatory vaccination, we will always lag behind,” health minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said. He said the current Omicron variant will not be the last and it is still unclear how stable is the immunity gained after infection with the latest variant.
“All experts believe that we will need high overall immunity in the population next fall as well,” Mueckstein said.
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