A new law comes into force in Austria on Tuesday that makes vaccination against Covid-19 compulsory for anyone over-18. Several countries have introduced mandates for the elderly or medical staff, but this is the first nation in Europe to adopt such sweeping measures.
Ceramic artist LOu Moser and her husband, Gus, have not vaccinated for Covid-19. The couple strongly disagrees with Austria’s new vaccine mandate.
She says vaccinations should be a personal choice. “I’ve had Covid-19. And so I actually don’t see the point of being jabbed when I’ve got sufficient antibodies,” LOu said. “And so I chose not to get vaccinated. And it’s not for any authority to tell me what to put into my body.”
“It has shown that the vaccines haven’t really stopped the pandemic yet,” LOu says. “People keep being vaccinated, and they’re still getting ill from Covid-19. Maybe not as badly, but they’re still getting ill.”
Austria’s government said vaccinations are effective at combating severe disease, and that the law is needed to prevent future lockdowns. Minister for the EU and Constitution, Karoline Edstadler, said the government is “very aware that it is really a strong step and really hard measure”.
However, she says it is necessary.
“We as politicians, have the responsibility to be sure that the healthcare system is still working, that society, as a whole, can live normally,” she said.
