Next week the government will decide whether the vaccination will be suspended during the summer or whether the law will be “tightened”. Violations of the obligation should have been punished from mid-March, but on the advice of an expert committee, the vaccination obligation was suspended until June 1. The National Vaccination Committee (NIG) still adheres to it: three “shots” are needed for the basic vaccination.
State Secretary Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) already announced a few weeks ago that she does not expect “sharpening” before the summer. The government justified the suspension of the mandatory vaccination in March by stating that it would be disproportionate given the prevailing (omicron) variant of the coronavirus. The expert report stated that the vaccination obligation could not have had a significant impact on the burden on the medical infrastructure at that time.
In addition, the number of infections would decrease in the warmer months of the year, the panel of experts said. At the same time, they warned that a new, potentially huge, corona wave was “very likely” to be expected in the fall.
Wait for the final report
Following an APA request on Thursday, the Ministry of Health declined to comment on the further procedure in the field of mandatory vaccination, but did not want to prejudge the final report of the expert committee. After that, a suspension decision would have to be made in the National Council’s main committee.
At the end of April, Minister Edtstadler already assumed that the committee would recommend a new suspension in its report at the end of May. She also expressed the hope that the government would never have to make mandatory vaccinations operational.
discussions about alternatives
There has been discussion among experts for some time about alternatives to a general vaccination requirement. Epidemiologist Eva Schernhammer, also a member of the committee of experts, advocates mandatory vaccination in the medical world and in elderly care. The head of the bioethics committee, Christiane Druml, is calling for a focus on groups such as health professionals, the over-60s and at-risk patients of all ages.
Virologist Dorothee von Laer has also proposed limiting mandatory vaccination to people over 60. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) has so far refused to single out individual groups.
Three “stitches” for basic vaccination
Three “pricks” – two first vaccinations plus one more after six months – are required for the basic vaccination against corona, the National Vaccination Commission (NIG) states in its current advice for use. Continued corona infections “only lead to the postponement of these vaccinations and to an improved immune situation, but in no way replace individual vaccinations”.
Source: Krone
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