Austria Implements Mandatory Vaccination Law

On February 5, Austria enacted a law requiring the majority of adults to be vaccinated against COVID-19, thus becoming the first country in Europe to mandate vaccinations, reports European Pravda.

The law was published in the Federal Legal Gazette on Friday, February 4, and came into effect the following day. The upper house of the Austrian Parliament approved the bill, two weeks after it was confirmed by the lower house.

This requirement applies to all persons aged 18 and older in Austria. Exceptions are made for pregnant women and those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons, as well as to a limited extent for those who have recovered from the illness.