Austria's Unvaccinated Fined: A New Covid-19 Policy

In January 2022, Austria announced plans to fine unvaccinated adults up to €3,600 ($4,108) from mid-March. The country intended to implement the mandate in phases, with unvaccinated people first receiving a written notification. Then, in mid-March, police would be allowed to check vaccine status and impose fines, which could be reversed if people got vaccinated within two weeks of the penalty. However, Italy's Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, stated in December 2022 that Austria had not acted on its threats to fine unvaccinated individuals. As of November 2021, Austria was considering making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory in February 2022, with a potential fine of €7,200 for those who remained unvaccinated.

Austria's COVID-19 vaccine mandate

In January 2022, Austria announced plans to impose fines on people without COVID-19 vaccinations beginning in March. Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated that unvaccinated adults would face penalties of up to 3,600 euros ($4,108). The mandate would be implemented in phases, starting with a written notification, followed by police checks and fines in mid-March. However, those who chose to get vaccinated within two weeks of receiving a fine would have the penalty reversed.

This decision sparked protests in Vienna, with thousands gathering to oppose the mandate. Austria's vaccination rate at the time was approximately 65%, lower than the European average of 67%. The Austrian government intended to conduct unannounced checks on an "unprecedented scale" and deploy additional police patrols to enforce the mandate.

The announcement of fines in Austria was part of a broader trend in Europe, with countries such as France, Italy, and Greece also implementing various measures to encourage or mandate vaccinations. For example, France's parliament approved a law excluding the unvaccinated from restaurants, sports arenas, and other venues, while Italy imposed a vaccine mandate on people over 50.

In the context of Austria's political landscape, the vaccine mandate was enforced during the leadership of Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who framed the September election as a choice between himself and Herbert Kickl, the head of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO). Nehammer described Kickl as a conspiracy theorist and a security threat, and his attempt to form a centrist coalition excluding the FPO ultimately failed.

Subsequently, the Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen, tasked Kickl with forming a government, despite concerns about Kickl's far-right views and the FPO's connections to neo-Nazi ideologies. This shift in power dynamics demonstrated the growing influence of right-wing parties in Austria and across Europe.

Fines of up to €3,600 for non-compliance

On January 16, 2022, the Austrian government announced that Covid-19 vaccination would be mandatory for all those over 18 years of age from February 1. After an initial transition and information phase ending on March 16, the Austrian police would carry out random checks to verify people's vaccination statuses. From that point on, unvaccinated residents of Austria could be fined 600 euros up to four times a year.

The authorities will send a letter reminding all those who are unvaccinated that they should get the vaccine. If satisfactory levels of vaccination are not reached, there will be a third phase of implementation of the law, in which people will be given an obligatory appointment for vaccination. If the individual does not attend the appointment, they will be automatically fined up to 3,600 euros twice a year.

The vaccine mandate, which must be approved by parliament, is due to start in February and last through January 2024. Two opposition parties support it, suggesting it will pass easily. There will be quarterly vaccination deadlines, and the authorities will check a central vaccination register to see if members of the public are in it.

"If that is not the case, proceedings will be brought. In regular proceedings, the amount of the fine is 3,600 euros," Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said, adding that fines would be means-tested. "As an alternative, the authorities have the option to impose a fine in shorter proceedings immediately after the vaccination deadline. Here, the amount of the fine is 600 euros," he said, adding that if this was not paid, it would lead to regular proceedings.

Unvaccinated people restricted to their homes

Austria has implemented a range of measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including fines for unvaccinated individuals. The Austrian government announced plans to impose penalties on unvaccinated adults, with fines of up to €3,600. This mandate was to be implemented in phases, with unvaccinated individuals first receiving a written notification, followed by police checks and fines in mid-March. However, these fines could be reversed if individuals received their vaccination within two weeks of the penalty.

In addition to the fines, Austria introduced restrictions on the unvaccinated, limiting their movements and activities. From November 15, unvaccinated individuals over the age of 12 were required to stay at home, except for essential purposes such as shopping, sports, or medical care. The Austrian government planned to conduct unannounced checks on an unprecedented scale, deploying additional police patrols to enforce these restrictions.

The decision to restrict the movements of the unvaccinated was driven by the country's relatively low vaccination rate. At the time, Austria had a complete vaccination rate of approximately 65%, which was lower than the European average of 67%. The government aimed to stem the tide of COVID-19 infections and reduce the strain on the healthcare system by encouraging more people to get vaccinated.

These measures sparked protests in Austria, with thousands gathering in Vienna to oppose the plan. However, Austria was not the only country to implement such restrictions. Other European countries, like France, also made life more difficult for the unvaccinated, excluding them from restaurants, sports arenas, and other venues.

While some countries believed that fining unvaccinated individuals was an effective strategy to increase vaccination rates, others disagreed. Italy's Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, argued that fining unvaccinated people does more harm than good, as collections of fines rarely take place. He cited Greece and Austria as examples, where fines were introduced but never actually collected.

Police checks and fines from mid-March 2022

From mid-March 2022, Austria will impose fines on those without COVID-19 vaccinations. People unwilling to get inoculated will face penalties of up to €3,600 ($4,108), according to Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The mandate will apply to all adults living in the country, with medical exemptions granted.

The policy will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, the unvaccinated will receive a written notification. From mid-March, police and other officials will check vaccine status, impose fines, and order vaccine appointments if necessary. Fines can be reversed by getting vaccinated within two weeks of being fined. Continued dissent will result in another €600 fine after a month.

Nehammer, a former interior minister, has been working to refine the policy, which critics say will be difficult to enforce without excessive controls on the public. Austria's policy is being closely watched as a potential model for other European Union countries.

Austria's police checks and fines for the unvaccinated come as the country tries to curb one of the most rapidly rising infection rates in Europe. In November 2021, the country recorded almost 840 new cases per 100,000 people, the highest infection rate in western Europe and the highest recorded in the country since the start of the pandemic.

Protests against the vaccine mandate

Austria has witnessed a wave of protests against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and strict lockdown measures. In Vienna, around 2,000 people took to the streets, bringing downtown traffic to a standstill during the afternoon rush hour. The Austrian flags were accompanied by flags from Germany, Serbia, and France. The protests were largely peaceful, with music playing from loudspeakers and marchers holding flares and placards with slogans like "Hands off our children" and "No to compulsory vaccination."

The demonstrations were directed against the Austrian government's imposition of a full lockdown and mandatory vaccinations for all eligible citizens. These measures were implemented in response to spiking coronavirus cases and Austria's high seven-day incidence rate in Europe. The protests in Austria are part of a broader trend across Europe, with similar demonstrations erupting in the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, and Denmark.

The Austrian government's decision to make vaccinations compulsory has sparked strong criticism and waves of street protests in major cities such as Vienna, Linz, Graz, and Klagenfurt. The compulsory vaccination law was scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2022, and those refusing to comply would face penalties of up to €3,600. The law applies to anyone living in Austria from the age of 14, with limited exceptions for pregnant women and individuals with specific health issues.

The protests reflect a divide in Austrian society, as polling suggests that more than half of Austrians support a vaccine mandate, while a significant portion opposes it. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won the country's parliamentary election in 2024, has been staunchly against vaccines. The FPO described the COVID-19 vaccines as "a genetic engineering experiment" and sought to prevent mandatory vaccinations.

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