Expansion of Free Vaccination Offerings for Adults

From the end of 2025 or in 2026, the free vaccinations against pneumococci and shingles for adults will gradually be made available free of charge. The allocation procedures are still ongoing. Therefore, a specific date for the start of the free offer cannot yet be provided. Likewise, the exact costs are still unclear due to the ongoing process.

Free Vaccinations Against Pneumococci and Shingles for Adults Confirmed: "Health Should Not Be a Privilege"

The goal is "a nationwide implementation for all persons aged 60 and over, as well as for defined risk groups with chronic diseases. These include, among others, people with cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, diabetes mellitus, severe cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders," it was explained upon request. The exact definition of the eligible groups is based on the recommendations of the National Vaccination Committee (NIG).

The expansions of the free vaccination program were decided by the federal government, states, and social insurance in the Federal Target Steering Commission on the recommendation of the National Vaccination Committee, it was stated in the release. The decision is based on evidence-based analyses by the Vienna University of Technology in collaboration with Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) and the Medical University of Vienna. The aim was to use the available public funds as effectively as possible and to specifically reduce disease burdens, it was emphasized.

"Health should not be a privilege. Anyone who wants to protect themselves should be able to do so - regardless of age, income, or place of residence," said Health Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ). "Especially older people and risk groups benefit enormously from early, free access to these vaccinations," Königsberger-Ludwig also emphasized.

Protection Through Vaccinations Against Diseases and Consequences

The vaccination against herpes zoster - commonly known as shingles - protects against the acute disease and additionally against the sometimes long-lasting, difficult-to-treat consequences such as chronic nerve pain, the ministry explained. It can also prevent many sick leaves and possibly even reduce the risk of developing dementia in old age. The NIG recommends the vaccination from the age of 60, where shingles increasingly occurs with severe courses, and it is approved from the age of 51.

Vaccinations against pneumococci prevent severe disease courses caused by pneumococcal bacteria - including bacterial pneumonia, blood poisoning, and meningitis. These diseases are associated with particularly high mortality and primarily affect older and immunocompromised individuals.

Further Recommended Vaccinations Open

The decisions to expand the free vaccination program currently relate exclusively to pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccinations, according to a request from APA from the office of Königsberger-Ludwig. Regarding RSV, where the vaccination is generally recommended by the NIG from the age of 60 and free immunization is already offered for newborns, there is "no decision." The same applies to regular booster vaccinations for diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/polio and TBE.

"We do not make such decisions alone: countries, social insurance, and ultimately the Ministry of Finance, which provides a significant portion of the funds, are involved in the decision-making processes," it was emphasized. Currently, the focus is on implementing the already decided vaccinations. The influenza vaccination is already free for children and adults, for example. The action of the temporarily free HPV vaccination against several types of cancer for men and women until the age of 30 was also recently extended.

Senior Representatives Delighted with Free Vaccination Offer

The Pensioners' Association (PVÖ) welcomed the free shingles and pneumococcal vaccination in a statement and saw its long-standing demand fulfilled. "Protection against diseases through vaccination should not be a question of one's wallet," said PVÖ President Birgit Gerstorfer. "Finally, what we as the Senior Citizens' Association have been demanding for years is being implemented: a low-threshold and free access to vaccinations that are vital for older people," also responded Ingrid Korosec, President of the Austrian Senior Citizens' Association.

"With the shingles vaccination, it is not just any vaccination being included in the free vaccination program, but the one whose payment is likely the greatest financial hurdle for people," said Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz (SPÖ) happily. Many affected individuals have turned to the Ombudsman in recent years because they cannot afford the 500 euros for the shingles vaccination.

"We have been working intensively on the Public Vaccination Program for Adults since 2020," explained ÖGK Chairman Andreas Huss. "In 2022, we were able to start with the influenza vaccination program and vaccinated over a million people for free last year alone. Now the second expansion stage follows: Finally, we can include the pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination in the vaccination program," he rejoiced. Peter McDonald, spokesperson for the social insurance, also welcomed the decision.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.