- Title: Thousands protest in Vienna against COVID restrictions and vaccine mandate
- Date: 11th December 2021
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ARRIVING AT HELDENPLATZ AND GATHERING IN FRONT OF HOBURG PALACE HERBERT KICKL, LEADER OF THE FAR-RIGHT FREEDOM PARTY, HOLDING SPEECH / PEOPLE CHEERING BANNER READING (German) "MANDATORY VACCINATION: FASCISM" (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, RENE, SAYING: "I demonstrate for the freedom of choice on whether I want to be vaccinated or not. I think this should be an individual decision. In general, we are not against the vaccine. Herbert Kickl (leader of the far-right Freedom Party) does not speak against the vaccine. We are here so that each and every one of us is able to choose whether to get vaccinated or not. I think we should not let the government get away with the vaccine mandate. What will come next?" PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF HOBURG PALACE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, COSIMA, SAYING: "I am demonstrating against the vaccine mandate. I am not against the vaccine itself or other decisions related to the vaccine, but I am against the vaccine mandate because it is an experimental vaccine which has not been tested properly yet." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROTESTER, ANDREA, SAYING: "I came here because I took part in the peace demonstrations in the 80's and I have this feeling when governments say they want to protect us... it can't be true. I don't believe them. I think the vaccine is dangerous and I don't want them to do animal testing (on us)." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED
- Embargoed: 25th December 2021 16:41
- Keywords: austria coronavirus omicron pandemic protest vaccine mandate
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Topics: Europe,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002F7LFSQV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of people, many of them far-right supporters, protested in Austria's capital Vienna on Saturday (December 11) against coronavirus restrictions and compulsory vaccination.
Noisy crowds, cheering, whistling and banging drums, streamed into Heroes' Square in central Vienna.
Many protesters waved flags and carried signs with slogans such as "no to vaccine mandate" and "no is no".
Austria's conservative-led government on Thursday (December 9) gave details of its plan to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory, saying it will apply to people aged 14 and over and holdouts face fines of up to 3,600 euros ($4,071) every three months.
Roughly 68% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.
Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.
"I demonstrate for the freedom of choice on whether I want to be vaccinated or not.
I think this should be an individual decision," Rene said after listening to far-right leader Herbert Kickl, who recently caught COVID-19.
"I think, we should not let the government get away with the vaccine mandate. What will come next?", he added.
"I am not against the vaccine itself or other decisions related to the vaccine, but I am against the vaccine mandate because it is an experimental vaccine which has not been tested properly yet," Cosima, a nurse, said, while holding a banner reading "I would rather be fired than vaccinated."
The vaccine mandate, which must be approved by parliament, is due to start in February and last through January 2024.
Two opposition parties support it, suggesting it will pass easily.
There will be exemptions for pregnant women and people who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.
(Production: Lisi Niesner, Elena Gyldenkerne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None