The vaccination rate in Austria is on average very low in the EU. Vaccinations are already taking place in pharmacies in 17 European countries. Successfully!
The more than 7,000 pharmacists throughout Austria are still saying “please be patient”. The legislature has still not given the starting signal to support the medical profession in vaccinating the population. Experts expect that this ‘go’ would significantly increase the vaccination rate, which is sometimes very low in this country. Dozens of countries around the world where vaccinations in pharmacies are part of daily life demonstrate the resounding success of this measure.
A (jealous) look at South Tyrol impressively shows how the willingness of the population to be vaccinated increases if an additional, accessible offer is available in the pharmacies around the corner.
Corona as a trigger
Vaccination has been possible in South Tyrolean pharmacies since November 2021. The decisive moment was Corona. The images from northern Italy, which was a tragic ‘hotspot’ for infections in the early stages of the pandemic, will never be forgotten. Due to the dramatic situation, the Italian government has relied on the flexibility and widespread distribution of pharmacies and made vaccination possible. It has now become an integral part of pharmacy services. Of the approximately 130 pharmacies in South Tyrol, 42 locations – about a third – offered and administered COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for adults last winter. Within three months, 220 stitches were administered in one pharmacy in Lana.
Joint fight against vaccination fatigue
The pandemic has further increased vaccination fatigue and vaccine skepticism among the Austrian population, widening the vaccination gap even further. Community pharmacies see themselves as campaigners alongside the medical profession for better vaccination rates. More than 2,000 pharmacists have already completed the vaccination training of the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists at the highest international level and it is available in 1,000 pharmacies across the country. The Austrian Health Insurance Fund, the Senior Citizens’ Council and the patient advocacy group are also pushing for a rapid, legal basis for vaccination. And Health Minister Johannes Rauch is also extremely positive about the request.
While Austria is still lagging behind in this offer, the next step is already being prepared in Italy. From 2026, all mandatory vaccinations must be able to be refreshed in pharmacies.
Source: Krone

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