Austria suspended mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for all adults saying that the pandemic no longer poses the same disastrous affects, just after same law took effect in an EU first. The Alpine nation of 9 Million people was also among few countries in the world to make dig against the coronavirus vaccine compulsory for all adults.
The law came in effect, in February and whooped for fines up to 3,600 euros ($3,940) from mid-March for all those who did not comply by the law or rule.
Karoline Edtstadler said that the law’s obtrusion into the fundamental rights can no longer be justified by the danger posed by the pandemic.
After a Cabinet meeting and consultations with the health minister, the government officials have decided that they will follow what the expert commission has said about the law enforcement.
The statement that was made by the minister also stated that, the government officials and health officials also don’t see any need to actually implement this compulsory vaccination drive due to the occurrence of Omicron variant.
The highly-contagious variant is believed to be less severe than the already existing strains of the virus, and so far Austrian hospitals have been able to cope with a surge in cases.
Lowering down of the cases has led the government to drop most coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks. The government has also stressed it needs to act flexibly in line with the epidemiological situation.
Edtstadler said that, just how the virus keeps on changing, the policies and rules should also be changing accordingly only.
Johannes Rauch, who came in new to the chair of health minister said that, their decision to suspend the law will be reviewed in three months.
The rate of those who are considered as fully protected against the virus has hardly changed in about 70% of the population.
That group includes people who are vaccinated, not vaccinated and combination of both.
Calls to review the law, including from within the ruling conservative People’s Party has also become extensively loud as Austria has dropped many restrictions.
As per the recent reports, Austria has recorded almost 3 Million coronavirus cases and more than 15,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Though the country might be recording considerable number of Covid-19 cases, but the death and hospitalization has reduced to a very less number.
