The booster vaccination against Covid-19 – or the fourth suture – is now recommended from the age of 60. In the application advice updated on Wednesday, the National Vaccination Committee lowered the age limit from 65 years ago. In addition, persons at risk from the age of twelve must also receive a refresher course. The Valneva vaccine will also be available by the end of August, the health ministry said.
The amendment of the fourth vaccination follows the procedure of the European Medicines Agency. “With the advice for a booster vaccination from the age of 60, we are standardizing the advice according to European specifications and ensuring greater clarity in communication,” said Minister of Health Johannes Rauch (Groenen). Developments in the pandemic and scientific studies have shown that the elderly, as well as high-risk groups, are still at the highest risk of severe courses of Covid-19.
Four to six months after the third bite or infection
New scientific analyzes show that people over 60 already benefit from an earlier booster vaccination. This should take place at the earliest four months, but in any case from six months after completion of the basic vaccination course with three vaccinations or after a PCR-confirmed infection. A booster vaccination is still “generally not recommended” for healthy people up to age 59, but they should also get a booster vaccination if they wish.
Prognosis: Further decline in hospitals, but infections are increasing again
With the current number of cases, the experts of the forecast consortium continue to assume that the number of corona infected people in hospitals will decrease for the time being. According to the preview of Wednesday, this is also due to the decreasing number of infections in recent weeks. However, there are signs that the trend is beginning to reverse, as evidenced by the flow of reported positive tests and wastewater monitoring over the past few days. A gradually fading “holiday effect” is possible.
In addition to these seasonal influences and holiday-related changes in contact behaviour, the immunization of the population obtained through vaccinations and infections is also continuously decreasing. As a result, the infection dynamics are expected to accelerate again in the near future, warn the model computers of the Vienna University of Technology, MedUni Vienna and Gesundheit Austria GmbH. In Tyrol and Styria, the positive tests have already exceeded the values of the previous week. Developments in wastewater monitoring have also shown a slight increase in some federal states, for example in Styria, but also in Vorarlberg and Salzburg.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
