Does France have the toughest Covid-19 policy towards unvaccinated people? Not really. “When we compare, we console ourselves”, had thus launched the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, on December 29 in the law committee of the National Assembly, at a time when the deputies began the work of transforming the health pass into vaccine pass.
If France will adopt the vaccination pass in the coming days and limit access to many places to only those vaccinated, other countries have gone even further, in particular by imposing compulsory vaccination for age categories. A non-exhaustive overview of the countries which have decided to “piss off” the unvaccinated even more, to use the words of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in his interview with the readers of Le Parisien.
In Austria, compulsory vaccination from 14 years old
The announcement came at a time when the overwhelmed country had reconfigured itself for twenty days. On November 22, then Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced that vaccination once morest Covid-19 would become compulsory for all residents over the age of 14 from February 1. “We have to look reality in the face, we have no other choice,” admitted the Chancellor. Despite months of persuasion, we have not been able to convince enough people to get the vaccine. “
The vaccination obligation for all, a first in the European Union, will come into force in early February in Austria, and will be subject to controls. An exemption will still be granted for health reasons. For others, the law provides for an initial fine of 600 euros which can go up to 3,600 euros in the event of non-payment. In Austria, 72% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated (77% in France), according to World Data data.
In Italy, compulsory vaccination of over 50s and tightening of the vaccination pass
The message is clear. The government wants to “restrict the land to the unvaccinated as much as possible,” in the words of Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Wednesday. In Italy, the vaccination obligation for people over 50, or nearly 28 million people, takes effect on February 15 – it already concerned caregivers, teachers and members of the police. In detail, the decree-law imposes the vaccination obligation for people over 50 years of age who are not working as well as the possession of the vaccination pass from February 15 for all those over 50 who are working, both in the public than in the private sector. A masked vaccination obligation, since the pass is obtained only with a complete vaccination schedule or following recovery from Covid-19.
The Italian government’s strategy is divided into two objectives: to put pressure on those at risk, and to toughen up the tone for everyone. In addition to compulsory vaccination for the elderly, Italy has drastically strengthened its vaccination pass. The tool will soon be needed in public transport, hotels, restaurant terraces, fairs and conferences as well as in swimming pools and gyms. The non-vaccinated (nearly 26% of the population), who risk up to 1,500 euros in fines, may be suspended by their employer, and their remuneration will be abolished.
In Greece, compulsory vaccination for over 60s
The objective is clear: to vaccinate people at risk. In Greece, vaccination will become compulsory for those over 60 from January 16. And the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced that he would touch the wallet of the refractory: an unvaccinated person will be subject to a monthly fine of 100 euros, but the method has not been specified. “This is the price to pay for health”, regretted the Greek leader, in a country where only 68% of the population, according to World Data data, has a complete vaccination schedule. There are also more than 500,000 Greeks over the age of 60 who are not vaccinated, or 5% of the total population.
In Quebec, access to alcohol and cannabis stores prohibits the unvaccinated
The Canadian province most affected by the Omicron variant, Quebec has decided to ban alcohol and cannabis stores to unvaccinated people from January 18. Their access will be reserved for people with a vaccination passport, explained Thursday the Minister of Health of the French-speaking province, Christian Dubé. “If the unvaccinated are unhappy, there is a very simple solution: go get your first dose, it’s free and easy! He thundered. Other businesses will be added in the coming days, in a province where 82% of the population is vaccinated according to the Canadian Ministry of Health.
