From the autumn of 2023, flu vaccination will be offered throughout Austria at a much lower price for all adults over 18 years of age. The federal government, the federal states and social security have agreed on this, Minister of Health Johannes Rauch (Greens), Alderman for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) and Director of Social Security Peter Lehner announced on Friday.
Patients only have to pay the prescription fee. The aim is to increase vaccination coverage. “In other countries, it’s standard to have a vaccination program,” Rauch says. In Austria, the vaccination rate in Vienna is 20 percent “at peak times”, in other federal states eight to ten percent. The offer of a national flu vaccination is especially important, for example to relieve the burden on hospitals when, for example, a flu coincides with a corona wave.
Hacker: “Great success”
Hacker called the deal a “huge success”. You share the costs, all states are behind the decision. However, the program offers no benefits to residents of the federal capital, as the city of Vienna has recently offered free vaccination campaigns. Lehner emphasized that the vaccination is now also mandatory in the e-vaccination card.
Long waiting time when ordering vaccines
Due to the long lead time when ordering flu vaccines, the introduction of the public vaccination program for all adults will not be possible until 2023. As in the past two years, there will be a limited offer next season, such as the free flu vaccination program for children and for people in retirement and nursing homes.
The program is initially limited to two years and will be evaluated thereafter. The common goal is an extension to other vaccinations.
Hacker, Rauch and Lehner thanked Vorarlberg Health Minister Martina Rüscher (ÖVP), who was largely due to the fact that an agreement had been reached. Rüscher chaired the state health officials for the first half of the year, while Vorarlberg chaired the conference of state governors and handed over the chair to Vienna for the second half of the year.
Source: Krone
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