Tens of thousands protest Austria’s compulsory COVID vaccines

Al Jazeera ^ | 11 Dec 2021

[BenLurkin]

Police said an estimated 44,000 people attended the demonstration on Saturday, the latest in a string of huge weekend protests since Austria last month became the first EU country to say it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory.

“No to vaccine fascism,” read one protest sign. “I’m not a neo-Nazi or a hooligan,” said another. “I’m fighting for freedom and against the vaccine.”

Vaccination is to be obligatory from February for all residents older than 14, except in the case of a dispensation for health reasons.

Nobody will be vaccinated by force, the government has said, but those who refuse the shot will have to pay an initial fine of 600 euros ($670), which can then increase to 3,600 euros ($4,000) if not settled.

[Verginius Rufus]

I knew it was Austria (although they should rename the country Ostmark in honor of the glorious memory of the years from 1938 to 1945). I was just playing along with the earlier posts mixing the two countries up.

I was once on a train in Austria and read some magazine where the Austrians were complaining about foreigners mixing them up with the Australians.

[alexander_busek]

I was just playing along with the earlier posts mixing the two countries up.

Yeah, I suspected that - but wasn't sure.

I was once on a train in Austria and read some magazine where the Austrians were complaining about foreigners mixing them up with the Australians.

I have lived four decades in Germany, but I was once on a train in Canada and read some magazine where the Canadians were complaining about foreigners mixing them up with Americans.

Is there any truth to that?

/s

Regards,