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He argued that omicron’s highly infectious nature and milder symptoms have changed things and that much of the population now has immunity, either via vaccination or infection. “I don’t really see the added value of the vaccine mandate at this point,” said Gerald Gartlehner, an epidemiologist at the Danube University Krems. “The vaccine mandate should help protect us from the next waves, and above all from the next variants.” “The vaccine mandate won’t immediately help us break the omicron wave, but that wasn’t the goal of this law,” Mueckstein told parliament Thursday. Officials argue that, even with the now-dominant omicron variant causing milder illness and Austria preparing to ease some coronavirus restrictions, the mandate makes sense. When and if those methodical checks start depends whether authorities, helped by a commission of experts that will report at least every three months, deem vaccination progress sufficient. In a third phase, officials would check the national vaccination register and send reminders to people who still aren’t vaccinated on dates set by the government, leading to potential fines.
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DISNEY PAUSES VACCINE MANDATE FULL
People who can’t produce proof of vaccination will be asked in writing to do so, and will be fined up to 600 euros ($680) if they don’t fines could reach 3,600 euros if people contest their punishment and full proceedings are opened. Only in mid-March will police start checking people’s vaccination status during traffic stops and checks on coronavirus restrictions. And it isn’t clear when or even whether the toughest part of the plan, which was watered down from the initial proposal, will take effect. It’s expected to become law in the coming days but it will be a while before Austrians notice any practical change. The Austrian mandate for residents 18 and over to get vaccinated - the first of its kind in Europe - cleared its last legislative hurdle Thursday when parliament’s upper house approved what Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein called “a forward-looking and active step.” The president signed the legislation Friday. Few other countries look likely to go as far as attention turns to loosening restrictions. VIENNA - A law requiring most adults in Austria to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is ready to take effect, but the sense of urgency that accompanied its announcement in November has largely evaporated. (M.Rode-Foto/Adboe Stock) By Emily Schultheis and Geir Moulson The Austrian mandate for residents 18 and over to get vaccinated - the first of its kind in Europe - cleared its last legislative hurdle Thursday.