The Intelligence from The Economist Through deny of a needle: vaccine mandates
Jan 18, 2022
Tom Nuttall, Berlin bureau chief, shares insights on Austria's upcoming fines for the unvaccinated, exploring the motivations behind such measures and their effectiveness. Noah Snyder, Tokyo bureau chief, discusses Japan's innovative strategies for managing an aging population, emphasizing the importance of redefining old age. They also touch on the struggles of the Mormon Church with member retention abroad, highlighting the cultural challenges it faces within its expansion efforts.
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Vaccine Mandates on the Rise
- Governments are increasingly implementing vaccine mandates due to the strain on hospitals from the Omicron variant.
- Austria is leading the way with plans to fine unvaccinated adults.
Austria's Mandate Details
- Austria's vaccine mandate will apply to all adults with few exceptions, taking effect on February 1st.
- Fines will be issued quarterly, starting mid-March, potentially reaching €3,600.
Austria's Rationale for Mandate
- Austria's drastic measure is driven by the assumption that other strategies won't work to increase vaccination rates.
- This highlights Austria's and Germany's particularly low vaccination rates among Western European countries.