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Quebec Canada’s second most populous province, announced Tuesday that adults who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will face a financial penalty.
The amount isn’t decided yet, but it will be “significant” and will be more than $100. The Associated Press reported that more details will be made public in the near future.
Premier Francois Legault announced that those who do not want to receive their first doses within next two weeks will be asked to pay a new amount to their health.
Not getting vaccinated burdens the health care system, and not all residents should be paying for it, he added. About 10% of the adults in Quebec are unvaccinated, but they account for approximately 50% of intensive care patients.
He stated, “It’s reasonable that a majority of people want consequences.” “It’s fairness to the 90percent of people who have sacrificed. We owe them.
Legault stated that the fine will be assessed to those who do not qualify for a medical exemption.
Provinces across Canada have reported a surge in COVID-19-related cases due to the Omicron variant, with Quebec being one of the most impacted, according to Reuters. Quebec is regularly having the highest daily number across the country.
Quebec has also announced an 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. curfew in the province, the AP reported. Beginning January. 18 liquor and cannabis stores in the province will require proof of vaccination and shopping malls and hair salons may soon require them as well.
According to to CNN According to CNN, 25% of Canadians live in Quebec. The province was one of the first provinces in Canada to require proof of vaccination to eat at restaurants or go to the gym or participate in sporting events.
Some European countries have introduced fees for non-vaccinated residents according to the AP reported. However, Quebec is the only one in Canada to announce a financial penalty for those who do not receive a vaccine.
The AP reported that in Greece people over the age of 60 years of age must get their first dose on Sunday. If they don’t get it, they’ll be fined 100 euros for each month that they haven’t been vaccination-free.
Austria will also impose fines up to 3,600 euros for those who do not follow the vaccination mandate for 14-year-olds and older. The process is expected to begin in February.
Italy requires that all residents who are over 50 years old are immunized. In the middle of February, those unvaccinated could be fined up to 1,600 euros if they go to their workplaces according to the AP reported.
Sources:
The Associated Press: “Quebec will penalize financially adults who have not been vaccinated.”
Twitter: @FrancoisLegault, Jan. 11, 2022.
Reuters: “No vax, pay tax in Canada, says Quebec as health system struggles.”
CNN: “Quebec will impose an imposing fine on residents who have not been vaccination-free.”
