Austria in default

Manufacturers: How vaccination can be more successful

Vaccine manufacturers recommend expansion of free programs and campaigns(Bild: Franz Neumayr)

The healthcare reform has reserved 90 million euros a year for vaccination, which should lead to an increase in vaccination rates. To this end, the Association of Vaccine Manufacturers (ÖVIH) recommended concepts for all age groups and improved access to free childhood vaccinations on Thursday (see video above). 

ÖVIH President Renée Gallo-Daniel said that it was also necessary to define health policy goals and campaigns. The ÖVIH wants to make its expertise available.

Influenza: WHO wants 75% vaccination coverage among over-65s
The World Health Organization's (WHO) goal for influenza is a vaccination rate of at least 75% for people over the age of 65. In Austria, the rate in this age group was 18.3% in 2021, reported ÖVIH Secretary General Christoph Jandl.

Austria lags behind in measles vaccination coverage
The target measles vaccination coverage rate of 95% with two doses is only achieved in Austria for ten to 18-year-olds and Austria is also still "lagging far behind" when it comes to the HPV vaccination target. Strategies are needed to increase vaccination rates in the population and protect against diseases, Gallo-Daniel appealed to health policy and social insurance.

"Adult vaccination programs should be further expanded"
"As you know, susceptibility to infectious diseases increases with age," explained Jandl. Vaccinations against Covid, influenza and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) have been rolled out for all age groups and HPV immunization is free of charge up to the 21st birthday. This is to be welcomed, but the adult vaccination programs should be "further expanded", the ÖVIH Secretary General recommended improved access to free vaccinations and low-threshold offers in all federal states. Gallo-Daniel called for "a transparent, clear, data- and fact-based process" as to why vaccinations are included in vaccination programs and why not.

As you know, susceptibility to infectious diseases increases with age. Vaccinations against Covid, influenza and measles-mumps-rubella have been rolled out for all age groups and HPV immunization is free until the 21st birthday.

berichtete ÖVIH-Generalsekretär Christoph Jandl

The ÖVIH President emphasized the need for target group-specific vaccination awareness campaigns, but also long-lasting campaigns and annual repetition. The TBE vaccination is a good example. In an annual report, data is used to determine which federal states and which target groups are needed in the coming year in order to increase the vaccination rate.

Vaccine manufacturers recommend expansion of free programs and campaigns(Bild: Franz Neumayr)

Industry wants to make its knowledge available 
In the case of the pneumococcal vaccination, which has to be paid for entirely privately, a vaccination coverage rate of 20 percent among adults has been achieved with campaigns, which is "a very good figure for this segment", said Gallo-Daniel. Vaccine manufacturers could make their knowledge available and initiate campaigns in cooperation with the public sector.

Limited capacities
The association of vaccine manufacturers called for more involvement from health policy in general. "Vaccine production is a long-term process", is complex and can take up to two years, said Jandl. It is therefore important to involve the industry right from the planning stage. Gallo-Daniel also pointed out supply bottlenecks and shortfalls. Production capacities are limited and sometimes there is only one supplier per vaccine. New vaccination recommendations or programs as well as new epidemics could lead to an increased demand for vaccines.