Austrian lawmakers pass Europe's strictest Covid-19 vaccine mandate
A nurse fills a syringe filled with a Covid-19 vaccine in April in Vienna, Austria.
(CNN)Austria's parliament has approved the European Union's strictest Covid-19 vaccine mandate, making it compulsory for the country's residents over the age of 18 to get the shot.
The law goes into effect February 1. However, Austrian officials will only begin conducting checks to see if the mandate is being adhered to from March 15. Starting then, those without a vaccine certificate or an exemption could be slapped with initial fines of 600 euro ($680).
Pregnant people and those who cannot be vaccinated without endangering their health are exempt from the law, according to the Austrian Health Ministry's website. People who are recovering from a Covid-19 infection are also exempt for 180 days from the date they received their first positive PCR Covid-19 test.
The bill passed by a vote of 137-33. Lawmakers debated for more than seven hours in parliament before the vote, in which 13 MPs did not participate.
Replies
Walking in the footsteps of Hitler!
Iiona, sad isn't it? Haven't learned anything.. Pray they will not just stand there dumb-founded like sheep, stand up for humanity and the right to have the freedom to think for themselves and what they put in there bodies!!!