Compulsory vaccination against Covid-19 for all those aged over the age of 18 comes into force in Austria today, an unprecedented measure in the European Union.
The new measure, adopted on 20 January by the country's parliament, was signed into law by President Alexander Van der Bellen yesterday, the culmination of a process that began in November in the face of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
The government decided to pursue its new tougher approach despite criticism within the country. "No other country in Europe is following us on compulsory vaccines," said Manuel Krautgartner, who has campaigned against the new approach.
In neighbouring Germany, a similar law championed by the new Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz was debated last month in the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, but has not made progress yet due to divisions within the political class.