Supply of Vaccines for Shingles and Pneumococcal

For the new free vaccinations against shingles and pneumococci, an additional 95,000 doses will be provided in November. The start at the beginning of the month was "extremely successful," according to the Ministry of Health. So far, around 100,000 doses of shingles and 150,000 doses of pneumococcal vaccines have been ordered by vaccination sites. "The high demand is a sign of the success of the expansion of the vaccination program," emphasized Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ).

The vaccines ordered so far by practices and other facilities are currently being delivered and distributed throughout Austria, it was emphasized to the APA. The Medical Association had criticized shortly after the ordering possibility for doctors began about two weeks ago that in some cases no vaccines were available.

Orders from Hundreds of Facilities

Around 2,000 different facilities have so far ordered shingles vaccines, and 2,700 vaccination sites have ordered pneumococcal vaccines, the Ministry of Health explained. All vaccinating facilities were urged to order only the quantities of vaccines actually needed to ensure fair distribution throughout Austria. Especially for the shingles vaccination, which consists of two doses spaced two to six months apart, second vaccinations should only be ordered when they are imminent, it was stated from Schumann's office.

Vaccinations against Shingles and Pneumococci: Numerous Additional Doses

In November 2025, an additional 70,000 doses of shingles vaccines and 25,000 doses of pneumococcal vaccines will be provided and - depending on the order volume - delivered this year. Another large supply of pneumococcal and shingles vaccines is expected in January 2026. The vaccination program has been approved until the end of 2028 - thus ensuring that all eligible individuals can be vaccinated and protected in the medium term, the Ministry emphasized.

The free vaccination program by the federal government, states, and social insurance was expanded in November to include immunizations against shingles (Herpes Zoster) and pneumococci for certain at-risk individuals and people aged 60 and over. The high demand "shows how much trust the population has in public vaccination programs," Schumann was pleased to say. "With the expansion to include free vaccinations against shingles and pneumococci, we are taking another important step to protect the health of people aged 60 and over and at-risk groups in the long term."

Since September, around 1.4 million influenza vaccine doses have also been available free of charge to the population. The majority of these have already been ordered and delivered by vaccinating facilities, the Ministry informed.

(APA/Red)

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