At the same time, 36 per cent agreed that a financial bonus to increase the vaccination rate in the country would be a sensible measure.

The survey was carried out by opinion research institute UNIQUE Research for the current edition of Profil magazine and the results were generated by responses from 800 people aged 16 and over.

The study shows that attitudes towards vaccination are changing in Austria after only 20 per cent said they wanted to be vaccinated in November 2020.

However, 61 per cent of respondents were against compulsory vaccination and the remaining five per cent answered with “don’t know”.

READER QUESTION: Will Austria make the coronavirus vaccine compulsory?

Politicians and doctors are advising a vaccination rate of 80 per cent of the population with plans to hit the target in Austria by the end of September 2021.

Currently, 54.69 per cent of people in Austria have received the first dose of the vaccination.

Vaccination already compulsory for some professions

In Vienna, newly-hired health and social care workers have to be vaccinated against coronavirus after it was made compulsory on May 27th.

Vienna health boss Peter Hacker said the spread of the delta variant had forced the decision.

But Covid-19 is not the only compulsory vaccination in Vienna.

Since 2017, Vienna Health Association staff have been required to be vaccinated for certain infectious diseases, including diphtheria, measles, tetanus, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B.

When it comes to the general population though, The Local Austria has reported on several occasions that the Austrian federal government has confirmed the coronavirus vaccine will be voluntary.

The Austrian government website rules out compulsory vaccination.

READER QUESTION: Can I be fired for refusing to get vaccinated in Austria?