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Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg at a news conference in Vienna last week. Alamy Stock Photo

Austrian Chancellor on vaccine mandate plans: 'You don't only have rights, you have obligations'

The country has entered a strict lockdown to combat soaring coronavirus cases.

AUSTRIA’S CHANCELLOR HAS defended his government’s decision to introduce a vaccine mandate as of 1 February next year, stating that citizens have an ‘obligation’ to protect society.

Austria has entered a nationwide lockdown to try to combat soaring coronavirus cases.

It is one of the most dramatic restrictions seen in Western Europe for months, with non-essential shops, restaurants and Christmas markets closed.

The measures require people to stay home aside from basic reasons like getting groceries, going to the doctor and exercising.

Speaking to the BBC, the country’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg defended plans for a vaccine mandate. 

“We have 66% of the population so far which has got the vaccine – this is too little too late,” he said.

“We want to break out of this vicious circle of virus waves and discussions about lockdowns and the only way, the only exit ticket we have is the vaccine.”

Schallenberg said his government had tried a different approach to encourage people to take up the vaccine, but this had not worked. 

“I am sorry we have to go this way, I would rather have it the other way and we have done ten months of campaigning, of trying to persuade people, but still we have a certain share – nearly one third of the population – which is hesitant,” he said.

He said there is also a political force in the country that is “running against the vaccination”.

“We are together and this is a common body,” he said. “If you’re in a society you don’t only have rights, you have obligations and if you neglect these obligations then they become compulsory sooner or later.

We have a higher good, this is the healthcare of Austria and nobody wants a situation where you don’t get access to an intensive care unit because the beds are filled with those who have not got the vaccination and have got Covid-19. At the end everybody is suffering.

Plans for the mandate policy are yet to be finalised but Schallenberg said those who refuse to get the vaccine will receive a fine.

“This is a challenge for every person,” he said.

“We have the choice to protect ourselves, to protect our families, loved ones, our co-workers, colleagues and friends and if not enough people take this decision then I believe it’s right that society says ‘we want you to do that, we really want you to do that’ and that’s the debate we’re now having in Austria.”

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    Mute Hurt Stoogie
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:12 PM

    We have the INM owned People/Guardian in Wexford also. Town like Enniscorthy doesn’t need 2 local papers. Sad to see though. Echo has been around for a long time.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:11 PM

    Can’t be a good time for anyone involved in the production of newspapers.

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    Mute Caped Crusader
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    Jun 29th 2017, 8:34 PM

    Problem with the Echo was its lack of presence online, paper is on the shelves a full week before its uploaded online. Print papers are on the way out so papers, even local ones need to modernise to stay alive. Wexford man in Dublin and would love to read up on the news at home however by the time it’s available it’s old news. Very sad for those losing their jobs.

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    Mute Tom Harpur
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    Jun 29th 2017, 10:31 PM

    @Caped Crusader: when I lived in Cork I could get it in Easons on The People on Thursday when it came out on Wednesday.

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    Mute Jackson Bollovks
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    Jun 29th 2017, 11:00 PM

    Why does Wexford need 4 newspapers? Are Sky News opening a bureau there too

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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:51 PM

    No surprise here as internet is slowly killing the print media off…DOB, you have been warned!

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    Mute Scundered
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    Jun 29th 2017, 8:33 PM

    Adapt to the new technology or die

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    Mute gamescentrel
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:21 PM

    of course denis o brien the globalist sellout is going to buy them and have more control over local media they already brainwash us enough in the other papers with fake news and other rubbish

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    Mute Hurt Stoogie
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:27 PM

    @gamescentrel: he owns 4 local titles in wexford already

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    Mute Bairéid Rísteard
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    Jun 29th 2017, 6:28 PM

    @gamescentrel: wonder if he’ll ever buy Waterford whispers :)

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    Mute Alan Moran
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    Jun 30th 2017, 6:03 PM

    The market is too small to support two papers, we alternated between the echo and people papers, but as someone else mentioned, the people has more of a online presence.

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