The new measures will take effect on February 1. Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said the vaccination register will be checked every three months, with the first cutoff date being March 15.
Government authorities will send letters to unvaccinated people who are unexempt at these three-month intervals reminding them to get the vaccine or a doctor-issued exemption by the next cutoff date. If they refuse, they will be fined until they comply.
While the law said fines could reach up to 3,600 euros per fine, the government said it would take people's finances into consideration. If people get vaccinated in the meantime, legal action will be dropped.
Mueckstein said people who are pregnant, have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months and who can't get vaccinated due to medical conditions are exempt. People who fall into those groups will have to record their exemption on the vaccination register.
Comment: This requirement obligates a person to divulge personal medical information, trampling any right to medical privacy.













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