Can I Be Required to Get a Covid Vaccine?

Faced with a new wave of coronavirus infections, Austria and Italy became the first countries in western Europe to make Covid-19 vaccines compulsory. A handful of other nations -- including Indonesia, Turkmenistan, Micronesia and Ecuador -- have also issued such mandates. A number of others have stopped short of that, requiring vaccination for access to public places, in some cases with the option of taking a test instead. Such edicts are controversial. Austria’s sparked protests. A requirement by the U.S. and Canada that truckers crossing their border be fully vaccinated sparked demonstrations in Ottawa that were so rowdy the mayor declared a state of emergency. The U.S. Supreme Court Jan. 13 blocked a federal rule compelling large employers to require Covid vaccination or testing.

Mandates don’t mean forced vaccinations, but rather penalties or denial of services for those who don’t get the shots. Indonesia punishes refusers by levying fines and denying them government assistance. Austria planned to impose a fine of as much as 3,600 euros ($4,000) on unvaccinated people over the age of 18, starting in mid-March.