European Minister Karoline Edtstadler is satisfied: “Austria has led the way in Europe with compulsory vaccinations, which are now also being discussed intensively in other member states, including Germany,” said the VP politician on Friday.
Edtstadler is premature. Austria is not yet obliged to be vaccinated. It has been announced for February 2022; there is currently not even a completed draft law.
This must be available around December 6th, otherwise the announced six-week review period will not run out.
There will be a transition period and exceptions. The amount of the penalties needs to be clarified. The federal government is discussing a fine under administrative law, Edtstadler has named graduated sanctions of up to 3600 euros.
Constitutional lawyer Peter Bußjäger (University of Innsbruck) thinks this is extremely high. He says that in the “average case” 300 to 500 euros should be enough as a fine.
Tobacco tax as a model?
The lawyer Hubert Niedermayr, an avowed supporter of the obligation to vaccinate, is for first violations for 500 euros and names 3500 euros as a possible upper limit.
The Lower Austrian Medical Association has other considerations. She wants a “pandemic levy” from unvaccinated people. The amount of this tax should correspond to the monthly tobacco tax burden of an average smoker – 90 to 100 euros. All income should be used to increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession.
There is also a suggestion from legal circles to create the mandatory vaccination in the same way as the mother-child passport. Sanctions are also planned there: The amount of the child care allowance is linked to the correct implementation and proof of the first ten mother-child pass examinations (five of the mother during pregnancy and five of the child after birth) with the health insurance provider.
The compulsory vaccination from February could have effects that the public are not even aware of. Government circles are considering not to allow any major events until the regulation comes into force and not to open night catering until then.
Source From: Nachrichten
