A new law comes into force in Austria on Tuesday (February 1) that makes Covid-19 vaccines compulsory for anyone over 18.
Several countries have introduced mandates for health workers and the elderly, but this is the first time a nation in Europe has adopted such sweeping measures, the BBC reports.
LOu Moser, a ceramic artist who lives south of Vienna, is unvaccinated, as is her husband, Gus. The pair strongly disagree with their country's new mandate.
"I've had Covid-19. And so I actually don't see the point of being jabbed when I've got sufficient antibodies," said LOu.
"And so I chose not to get vaccinated. And it's not for any authority to tell me what to put into my body.
"It has shown that the vaccines haven't really stopped the pandemic yet. People keep being vaccinated, and they're still getting ill from Covid-19. Maybe not as badly, but they're still getting ill."
Karoline Edtstadler, however, minister for the EU and Constitution, says the Austrian government is "very aware that it is really a strong step and really hard measure".
But, one that is necessary.
"We as politicians, have the responsibility to be sure that the healthcare system is still working, that society, as a whole, can live normally," she said.
"In this case, this interference (in human rights) can be justified.
"We have the need to get out of the pandemic and we know that vaccination is the only way to get out of it and to get back to a normal life."
The mandate expires in January 2024, and could end earlier if the pandemic allows.
And despite coming into force on Tuesday, authorities will not start checking people's vaccination status until mid-March.
Those who refuse to get vaccinated face fines ranging from €600 to €3,600. Exceptions apply for those who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons or who are pregnant.
Currently around 72% of Austrians are fully vaccinated.
Political analyst Thomas Hofer says how strictly the law will be enforced depends on how Covid-19 spreads in the future.
"I think a lot of people hope that this won't be as strict as the government proposed in the first place. I think there's some kind of Austrian solution, which means, you're never carrying it the whole way through," he said.
"Even the government might think, okay, maybe in March or April, it's not necessary anymore. But it depends on how the pandemic develops, if it comes back in the autumn and winter."
The strong resistance to the vaccine mandate remains, however.
The far-right, anti-vaccine Freedom Party says it will fight the measure in court. Its leader, Herbert Kickl, has said the law "paves the way to totalitarianism in Austria".
Opponents of the law are taking to the streets and demonstrators from many different parts of society have protested.
Austria has gone farther than any of its neighbours with this vaccine mandate. Other European countries will be watching closely.
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