Money Review
Mandatory vaccinations will begin in early 2022 in Austria, and those who refuse to be vaccinated will face fines up to 3,600 euros.
The fines are part of a last-ditch effort by the Austrian government to raise vaccination rates, as rising cases have forced it to impose a national lockdown.
Initially, authorities will offer an appointment to those who have not been vaccinated. If they refuse this appointment, a fine will be imposed. The measures will take effect in February.
Austria is the first country in Western Europe to make the coronavirus vaccine mandatory for all. This is because it has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the region, with about 66% of the population vaccinated.
A fine of up to 1,500 euros will also be imposed on those who refuse to take the booster shot.
There are protests in the country against the new measures, but also against the lockdown that was imposed from today. About 40,000 people gathered in Vienna on Saturday, led by the far-right Freedom Party.
