The health care reform sets aside 90 million euros annually for vaccination, which gives hope for an increase in vaccination rates. To this end, the Association of Vaccine Manufacturers (ÖVIH) on Thursday recommended concepts for all age groups and improved access to free vaccinations for children (see video above).
Moreover, the definition of health policy objectives and campaigns is necessary, said ÖVIH President Renée Gallo-Daniel. The ÖVIH wants to make its know-how available.
Flu: The WHO wants a vaccination rate of 75% for people over 65 years of age
When it comes to flu, the World Health Organization aims for a vaccination rate of at least 75 percent for people over 65 years of age. In Austria, this was 18.3 percent in this age group in 2021, ÖVIH Secretary General Christoph Jandl reported.
Austria lags behind when it comes to measles vaccination rates
The target vaccination rate for measles of 95 percent with two doses of vaccine is only achieved among ten to eighteen year olds in this country and Austria is also “far behind” when it comes to the HPV vaccination target. Strategies are needed to increase vaccination rates among the population and protect against diseases, Gallo-Daniel appealed to health policy and social security.
‘Ventilation programs for adults should be further expanded’
“As you know, susceptibility to infectious diseases increases with age,” Jandl explains. The Covid, influenza and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations have been rolled out to all age groups and HPV immunization is free until the 21st birthday. This is to be welcomed, but vaccination programs for adults must be “further expanded”, the ÖVIH Secretary General recommended to improve access to free vaccinations and easily accessible offers in all states. Gallo-Daniel called for “a transparent, clear data and evidence-based process” on why vaccinations are included in the vaccination program and why not.
The ÖVIH chairman emphasized that there is a need for target group-specific vaccination information campaigns, as well as long-term campaigns and annual repetition. The TBE vaccination is a good example. An annual report uses data to determine which states and which target groups are needed to increase the vaccination rate in the coming year.
The industry wants to make its knowledge available
When it comes to the pneumococcal vaccination, which is entirely privately paid, campaigns have achieved a vaccination rate of 20 percent among adults, which is “a very good value” for this segment, Gallo-Daniel said. The vaccine manufacturers could make their knowledge available and initiate campaigns in collaboration with the public sector.
Capacity limited
The vaccine manufacturers association generally called for greater involvement in health policy. “The production of vaccines is a long-term process,” is complex and can take up to two years, Jandl said. It is therefore important to involve the industry in the planning. Gallo-Daniel also recalled bottlenecks and failures in delivery. Production capacity is limited and sometimes there is only one supplier per vaccine. New vaccination recommendations or programs and new epidemics may lead to an increased need for vaccines.
Source: Krone
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