‘It must be my choice’: Austrians protest against compulsory Covid jabs

Many citizens say they will ignore the vaccine mandate despite the government’s carrot-and-stick approach of fines for holdouts and lottery tickets for people who get the jab, reports Amanda Coakley in Vienna

An Austrian protester holds a sign that reads ‘No agreement! No compliance! No contract!’ at a rally against mandatory vaccination in Vienna, 22 January 2022 (Amanda Coakley)

When Austria’s lower house of parliament passed a bill this week to make Covid vaccines mandatory for all adults from early February, Peter Rother was appalled. To the 47-year-old, the move was a sign of democratic backsliding.

A staunch opponent of Covid jabs, Mr Rother took to the streets of Vienna, Austria’s capital, on Saturday along with hundreds of others to voice his opposition to the bill, which is likely to become law in weeks.

“It’s my body, and it must be my choice what I do with my body”, he said from behind his surgical mask. “I think what this government has done is wrong and I will peacefully protest that.”

Since Austria in November became the first country in Europe to announce a near-universal jab mandate, a steady stream of anti-vaccination rallies have taken place in Vienna.

The crowds are usually diverse; ardent anti-vaxxers, far-right followers, conspiracy theorists, and troublemakers, but there have also been vaccinated protesters concerned about the ethical implications of the coalition government’s decision.

A recent poll for weekly news magazine Profil found a fairly even split for and against the vaccine mandate. Of the 51 per cent who opposed making jabs compulsory from February, two-thirds disagreed with it in general while the other third said they wanted to wait. The survey found that 45 per cent of Austrians favoured the mandate.

The sense of community was strong at Saturday’s gathering outside the Votivkirche, a neo-Gothic style church in central Vienna. Between speeches denouncing the bill, there was upbeat folk music and a puppet show. Austrian flags were held high and the crowd, which was made up of citizens young and old, often broke out in sporadic dancing to fight off the bitter cold.

For Karen, a 44-year-old woman near the front of the rally with her two friends and their toddler, Austria’s hardline policy towards vaccine hesitancy is a deterrent for getting the jab in future. “I don’t think people should be forced to take this vaccine,” she said, only giving her first name. “I’m concerned my employer will demand it and I could lose my job.”

People demonstrate with placards reading “Hands off our children” and “Compulsory vaccination for recovered people is Nazi-terror 2021” in Vienna on 8 January 2022 (APA/AFP via Getty Images)

Many people interviewed by The Independent at the rally were vaccinated for other diseases and had been happy to do so for foreign travel. Their grievance was with the coronavirus jab. Disinformation was rife, especially around the science of mRNA vaccines. The speeches were loaded with emotive issues such as the protection of democracy and free speech.

Austria is experiencing a record number of Covid infections as the Omicron variant spreads, with the Alpine nation recording a high of 46,669 new cases within a 24-hour period on Saturday.

The country has endured four national lockdowns and hospitals have been pushed to their limits. Vaccine passes under the so-called “2G” rule are needed for entry into all non-essential shops, gyms, cinemas, and restaurants. People who can show they have had a Covid infection within the last six months can also enter such premises.

The vaccine mandate bill introduces fines of €600 (£502) on holdouts from mid-March once checks begin. If the requirement is ignored, which was the intention of several attendees at Saturday’s protest, a maximum fine of €3,600 (£3,013) can be issued. Pregnant women or people with a justifiable medical condition that prevents them from getting the vaccine will be exempt.

Before Thursday’s vote, Austria’s newly appointed chancellor Karl Nehammer said the mandate was not about a “battle of vaccinated versus unvaccinated” but instead a way of showing “vaccination is the best guarantee for us to live together in freedom”.

About three-quarters of Austrians are fully vaccinated against Covid, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe but slightly above the EU-wide average of 70 per cent, according to Politico’slive vaccination tracker.

Policemen look on as people carry Austrian flags as they demonstrate in Vienna on 8 January 2022 (APA/AFP via Getty Images)

Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right and anti-vaccine Freedom Party, last week said the mandate strips people of their rights and that “millions of Austrians will be downgraded”. Mr Kickl said his party would challenge the soon-to-be law in the courts.

The bill must pass the upper house and be signed by the president, Alexander van der Bellen, but these steps are largely formalities.

The government is just not wielding the stick but offering carrots, such as Covid lottery tickets offering vaccine recipients an almost one-in-three chance to win a €500 (£415) gift voucher. Financial packages to local districts are also on offer should they hit high vaccine rates. Together, the incentives will cost the state around €1.4bn (£1.17bn).

Austria’s decision on mandatory vaccines could be replicated in neighbouring Germany later this year and a parliamentary debate on the issue is set to take place in Berlin next week. In response, anti-vaccine protests have been taking place across the country.

A lockdown for the unvaccinated was introduced in Austria in November although the measure has been difficult to implement. The country has also imposed strict border measures, especially from virus-variant countries, such as the UK.

Austria has reported more than 1.5 million infections and nearly 14,000 deaths from Covid since the pandemic began.