From the end of the year – two free vaccinations for risk groups now established now

An exact date for the start of the free offer cannot be stated due to the current allocation procedure, as the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday in a broadcast. If those procedures are successfully completed, the exact costs can also be announced.

In any case, the goal is ‘an extensive implementation for everyone from the age of 60 and for defined risk groups with chronic diseases’, says the Office of Health Secretary Ulrike Könisgberger-Ludwig (Spö). These include people with cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, diabetes mellitus, severe cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The precise definition of the stakeholders is based on the recommendations of the National Vaccination Committee (NIG).

Profit for the elderly and risk groups
The extensions of the free vaccination program were decided by the federal government, the federal states and social insurance in the Federal Target Control Commission on the recommendation of the National Vaccination Committee. The decision is based on evidence -based analyzes of the Technical University of Vienna in collaboration with Healthcare Austria GmbH (Gög) and the Medical University of Vienna. The aim was to use the available public funds as effectively as possible and to reduce disease taxes, emphasizes.

“Health should not be a privilege. If you want to protect yourself, you should be able to – regardless of age, income or place of residence,” Minister of Health Korinna Schumann (Spö) was quoted. “Older people and risk groups in particular benefit enormously from early, free access to these vaccinations,” Königsberger-Ludwig emphasized.

Prevention of serious diseases with high mortality
The vaccination against Herpes Zoster -in the popular rose -protected against the acute disease and also against the long -radiant, difficult to treat, difficult treatment, such as chronic nerve pain, explained the operation. It can also prevent a lot of sick leave and possibly even reduce the risk of developing age. The NIG recommends vaccination from the age of 60, where the belt increasingly occurs with difficult jobs, it has been approved from the age of 51.

Vaccinations against pneumococci prevent serious disease courses caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including bacterial pneumonia, blood poisoning and brain inflammation. These diseases are associated with a particularly high mortality rate and usually influence the older and immunocompromoused people.

Further recommended vaccinations open
The resolutions for the expansion of the free vaccination program currently only refer to pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations, it was said of the Königsberger-Ludwig office. To RSV, where the vaccination of the NIG from the age of 60 is recommended and a free immunization is already offered for newborns, there is “no decision”. The same applies to the regular refresher in diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/polio and tbe.

“We also not only make such decisions: countries, social security and ultimately also the Ministry of Finance are involved in the decision -making processes – which offer a not -part of the money,” the emphasis was emphasized. The focus is currently on the implementation of the vaccinations that have already been decided. Flu vaccination is already free for children and adults. The campaign of the temporary free HPV vaccination against different types of cancer in men and women was also recently expanded.

Senior representatives are satisfied
The reactions to the two free free vaccinations are consistently positive: the pensioners Association (PVö) saw his long -term question implemented because “protection against diseases through vaccination should not be a question of the wallet,” said Pvö president Birgit Gerstorfer. Finally, what the Senior Citizens’ Association has asked for years would finally be implemented, namely “a low threshold and free access to vaccinations,” said Ingrid Korosec, president of the Austrian senior association.

“With the race rose vaccination, a vaccination is not just included in the free vaccination program, but those whose payment is probably the biggest financial obstacle for people,” said Volksanstwalter Bernhard Achitz (Spö). Many affected people have contacted the public prosecutor in recent years because they cannot afford the 500 euros for the Belt Rose Vaccination.

“We work intensively on the public vaccination program for adults since 2020,” explains ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss. “In 2022 we were able to start with the Influenza vaccination program and last year alone more than a million people vaccinated for free. Now the second phase of expansion follows: ultimately we can add the pneumococcal and herpes -Zoster -vaccination to the vaccination program,” he said. Peter McDonald, spokesperson for social security, also welcomed the decision.