Translated from German:
Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) announced this on Tuesday after the round table. Edtstadler also said that this was indeed an "encroachment on fundamental rights", but that this was itself judged by the ECJ and, given the situation, justified. The mandatory vaccination will come into force on February 1, 2022 as planned - from what age is still unclear.
Edtstadler and Mückstein emphasized in unison that the talks with the experts and with "that part of the opposition who want to talk constructively about the compulsory vaccination" had gone very well. The Minister of Health said that it is currently in "a very difficult phase as far as the pandemic is concerned": "The corona vaccination - probably the best-studied drug in the world - is the only way out." And this is not his private opinion, but from countless experts already examined in detail: "The vaccination works, the vaccination is safe."
"Austria is moving ahead here"
There is no alternative to the introduction of a general compulsory vaccination, according to Mückstein: "This is the only way we can get closer to the goal of not getting a fifth and sixth wave or further lockdowns." Many other countries would also discuss this step, "Austria is going as one of the first countries ahead ”. Of course, according to Mückstein, this is an interference with fundamental rights, which is why “we have decided here to conduct a very broad dialogue”.
Edtstadler said that further talks will be held and that there will be constant dialogue with the experts: "We did not want that, we did not want a mandatory vaccination, but the situation is dramatic when we look at the intensive care units." The minister also thanked them Party leaders Pamela Rendi-Wagner (SPÖ) and Beate Meindl-Reisinger (NEOS), who took part in the round table together with the experts.
Edtstadler apologizes to those who are concerned
It is now important that the legal prerequisites are created "that the vaccination requirement lasts". It was also judged by the European Court of Human Rights that an encroachment on fundamental rights was justified in this case. "The vaccination is the only exit from the pandemic," said the minister. And she apologized to those people who had concerns, "do not feel addressed and now feel pushed into a corner with radicals". These people have to be reached, says Edtstadler. And that requires a broad alliance.
Age is still open, but elementary school children tend not to
Edtstadler did not want to say anything about the unanswered questions such as the age from which the mandatory vaccination should apply and how high the possible penalties will be: "These are questions that have been discussed." However, there have been no concrete stipulations today. When it came to the age limit, the age of 14 was mentioned again and again, according to Edtstadler. From this point in time, you will also come of age in Austria. But that is also a point that will still be discussed. Likewise, the question of whether it is a “permanent offense or a one-time thing”.
Expert: "Penalties must be appropriate"
Even before the summit, infectious diseases specialist Christoph Wenisch and constitutional and medical lawyer Karl Stöger commented on the compulsory vaccination and explicitly spoke out in favor of it. Wenisch emphasized that this was the only way to “prevent many terrible fates”. When asked about the size of the penalties, Stöger replied that they were “proportionate, but also strong enough to achieve the desired goal”.
Before the meeting, SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner once again emphasized that a high vaccination rate was the only way to “break the vicious circle of lockdowns”. The vaccination is necessary because the government has not managed to increase the vaccination rate. Because compulsory vaccination is a "very sensitive issue", the SPÖ boss is "very happy" that this exchange with experts is taking place.
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Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) announced this on Tuesday after the round table. Edtstadler also said that this was indeed an "encroachment on fundamental rights", but that this was itself judged by the ECJ and, given the situation, justified. The mandatory vaccination will come into force on February 1, 2022 as planned - from what age is still unclear.
Edtstadler and Mückstein emphasized in unison that the talks with the experts and with "that part of the opposition who want to talk constructively about the compulsory vaccination" had gone very well. The Minister of Health said that it is currently in "a very difficult phase as far as the pandemic is concerned": "The corona vaccination - probably the best-studied drug in the world - is the only way out." And this is not his private opinion, but from countless experts already examined in detail: "The vaccination works, the vaccination is safe."
"Austria is moving ahead here"
There is no alternative to the introduction of a general compulsory vaccination, according to Mückstein: "This is the only way we can get closer to the goal of not getting a fifth and sixth wave or further lockdowns." Many other countries would also discuss this step, "Austria is going as one of the first countries ahead ”. Of course, according to Mückstein, this is an interference with fundamental rights, which is why “we have decided here to conduct a very broad dialogue”.
Edtstadler said that further talks will be held and that there will be constant dialogue with the experts: "We did not want that, we did not want a mandatory vaccination, but the situation is dramatic when we look at the intensive care units." The minister also thanked them Party leaders Pamela Rendi-Wagner (SPÖ) and Beate Meindl-Reisinger (NEOS), who took part in the round table together with the experts.
Edtstadler apologizes to those who are concerned
It is now important that the legal prerequisites are created "that the vaccination requirement lasts". It was also judged by the European Court of Human Rights that an encroachment on fundamental rights was justified in this case. "The vaccination is the only exit from the pandemic," said the minister. And she apologized to those people who had concerns, "do not feel addressed and now feel pushed into a corner with radicals". These people have to be reached, says Edtstadler. And that requires a broad alliance.
Age is still open, but elementary school children tend not to
Edtstadler did not want to say anything about the unanswered questions such as the age from which the mandatory vaccination should apply and how high the possible penalties will be: "These are questions that have been discussed." However, there have been no concrete stipulations today. When it came to the age limit, the age of 14 was mentioned again and again, according to Edtstadler. From this point in time, you will also come of age in Austria. But that is also a point that will still be discussed. Likewise, the question of whether it is a “permanent offense or a one-time thing”.
Expert: "Penalties must be appropriate"
Even before the summit, infectious diseases specialist Christoph Wenisch and constitutional and medical lawyer Karl Stöger commented on the compulsory vaccination and explicitly spoke out in favor of it. Wenisch emphasized that this was the only way to “prevent many terrible fates”. When asked about the size of the penalties, Stöger replied that they were “proportionate, but also strong enough to achieve the desired goal”.
Before the meeting, SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner once again emphasized that a high vaccination rate was the only way to “break the vicious circle of lockdowns”. The vaccination is necessary because the government has not managed to increase the vaccination rate. Because compulsory vaccination is a "very sensitive issue", the SPÖ boss is "very happy" that this exchange with experts is taking place.
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