Austria’s health minister on Thursday released the details of a government-imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate that will take into effect early next year. The new measure will require all persons, starting on Feb. 1, who have a place of residence in Austria and are aged 14 and over to get the shot or face heavy quarterly fines. Austrian authorities announced last month that it would implement a general mandate for the shot early next year, becoming the first European country to do so. “So-called ‘vaccination deadlines’ take place every quarter,” Austria’s Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein explained in a statement, adding that for citizens who do not meet this deadline, a procedure will be initiated. “[The] procedure amounts to up to €3,600 [$4,071]—taking into account the income and financial circumstances,” Mueckstein said. “Unvaccinated people are reminded every quarter to be vaccinated until the next ‘vaccination deadline’ or to register a reason for an …