The Austrian government is not going to abandon the introduction of mandatory vaccination against coronavirus from February this year, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer told the Austrian Press Agency.

According to him, the parliamentary examination of the draft law on compulsory vaccination is over, it remains, if necessary, to polish the document, taking into account some proposals. 

The Chancellor also confirmed that the government's plan should be implemented from February, despite technical difficulties with the electronic health record system.

Last week, specialists from the Austrian state portal of electronic medical records ELGA announced that it would not be possible to technically implement the introduction and control of compulsory vaccination until April. In addition, one of the most authoritative and influential representatives of Austria's leading opposition Social Democratic Party and head of the Burgenland region, Hans Peter Doskotsil, called for a revision of the government bill due to the spread of the omicron strain. He supports vaccination against covid, but believes the mandatory vaccination bill as presented is flawed.

The Austrian government previously announced a plan to introduce compulsory coronavirus vaccination for all residents of the country from the age of 14 starting in February 2022. This coercive measure proved to be unpopular in Austrian society and sparked unprecedented mass protests.