Austria to make Covid jabs compulsory from February: Chancellor
Austria will become the first European country to make Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for adults in February, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Sunday, acknowledging that it was a "sensitive topic". Nehammer, a conservative who took office in December, said those who didn't comply would face a hefty fine. "We will decide on compulsory vaccination as planned. It will come into force at the beginning of February" for adults, he told a news conference. Since plans for compulsory jabs were first announced last year, Austria has seen impassioned debate both in parliament and beyond on the issue. To date 71.5 percent of eligible Austrian residents have had their jabs -- several percentage points below many of the country's EU neighbours. Nehammer acknowledged the decision covered "a totally sensitive topic" but said it followed careful consideration. He warned that after an "entry phase" for the policy, restrictions would be "tightened accordingly" in mid-March on those holding out against the jab, including fines of between 600-3,600 euros ($684-$4,100). Saturday saw some 27,000 people demonstrate in Vienna against the measure which opponents dub an attack on personal freedoms. On...