According to the Ministry of Health in a statement on Saturday, the law could then come into force at the beginning of February following a resolution by the National Council and Federal Council. In addition, experts should be involved in advance.
Round table with experts and the opposition (exception FPÖ)
Austria is one of the first countries that is actually implementing a general corona vaccination obligation, which is currently being discussed in many European countries. “This is a far-reaching measure and it is therefore extremely important to us to put this law on a broad basis and to involve as many different stakeholders as possible in the process,” said Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens). As a prelude, he and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) invite you to a round table on November 30th with experts from science, constitutional law, health, the constitutional service, the bioethics commission and representatives of the SPÖ and NEOS. In the coming weeks, further discussions are to follow with experts from the medical field, for example, with interest groups such as the social partners and civil society organizations.
Encroachment on fundamental rights “necessary and justified”
The incentive systems for the corona vaccination would have an effect, according to Mückstein. In the meantime, 70 percent of the total population are at least partially immunized and two thirds have sufficient vaccination protection to be protected from severe courses. “From an epidemiological point of view, however, we know that this is not enough. We have to do everything possible to protect ourselves against impending waves of infections as well as possible.” In any case, a solid legal basis is necessary for the announced mandatory vaccination, stressed Edtstadler. “The introduction of the general compulsory vaccination encroaches on fundamental rights, but is a necessary and justified step in view of the dramatic situation.”
FPÖ outraged that it is being “ignored”
The FPÖ caused outrage that it was not named among the participants in the round table. The FPÖ is the only force that opposes this serious encroachment on the fundamental rights of the people and is therefore ignored by the government right from the start in this, the most serious legislative change in decades, criticized party leader Herbert Kickl in a broadcast.
Statements by the FPÖ “do not suggest a constructive contribution”
The FPÖ will of course be involved in the process apart from the round table, it said to the APA from the offices of Mückstein and Edtstadler with reference to parliamentary instruments. On Tuesday they want to seriously and constructively discuss the numerous open questions with experts. However, the FPÖ has repeatedly made it clear to do everything against the introduction of mandatory vaccinations. “That does not suggest a constructive contribution. Should anything have changed here, I am always available for discussions,” emphasized Edtstadler. For platitude-like repetition of prepared opinions up to and including conspiracy narratives, however, “given the precarious situation in the hospitals, there is no time” in the context of discussions with experts. “One of the most dangerous current conspiracy theories is that vaccination is the game changer,” replied FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz. The FPÖ would have had many legitimate questions about the “mandatory vaccination” at the round table that would have interested hundreds of thousands of Austrians. “But apparently Mückstein only invites uncritical ghosts and yes-sayers who pat the government on the shoulder in advance obedience when the vaccination is compulsory.”
Meanwhile, ÖGB boss Wolfgang Katzian did not want to say in the “Kleine Zeitung” on Saturday whether he would support the planned compulsory vaccination. At the moment there is only the catchphrase. “All questions are unanswered. Nobody knows what compulsory vaccination exactly means.” The lockdown and the compulsory vaccination should be accepted as a political decision, said IV President Georg Knill in the “Kurier” (Saturday edition). Vaccination is a solution to the pandemic. “You have to campaign hard now,” says Knill. The industry advocates considering not only personal and health aspects, but also social and economic aspects in the discussion about compulsory vaccination.
Compulsory vaccination should probably not be enforced with compulsion
The “Salzburger Nachrichten” again quote from currently circulating working papers on the planned vaccination requirement. According to this, a transition period of unspecified duration is planned, and there should also be an expiration date in all probability. In addition, there are likely to be exceptions for those who, according to the medical officer, cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, and in some cases for pregnant women and minors, although the age limit is still open according to the report. In principle, the compulsory vaccination should apply to everyone who has their place of residence or habitual abode in Austria. It should be firmly stated that the mandatory vaccination is not enforced with compulsion, i.e. no one should be compulsorily presented for vaccination. Instead, administrative penalties are provided. The Ministry of Health did not want to comment on the content of the report on Saturday to the APA, the work processes would in any case still be running.
Source From: Nachrichten
