Since compulsory vaccination came into force on February 4, only 26,018 previously unvaccinated people across Austria have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The number of people willing to be vaccinated has been falling for weeks. Due to the further falling demand, the federal states are further reducing their vaccination offers.
Only two vaccination lines in Linz
As in all of Upper Austria, the demand for Covid 19 vaccinations is also declining in Linz. That is why all but two vaccination routes are now closed, the city reported in a press release on Wednesday. After the weekend, vaccinations are given in the Volkshaus Ebelsberg (with and without an appointment), in the Passage City Center and at the resident doctors in Linz. The municipal vaccination bus, in which almost 20,500 Covid 19 vaccinations have been administered since July 2021, will also make its last round on Saturday. The state of Upper Austria also wants to have its current 31 vaccination locations reduced to 18 by the end of March at the latest. However, a public vaccination offer will remain in every district. The possibility of getting an injection from the resident doctor remains open, informed LH deputy Christine Haberlander (ÖVP).
Still less than 70 percent vaccination coverage
In the past week, not even 4,600 vaccinations were administered every day, more than 20,000 in one day it was last on February 5th, the day after the compulsory vaccination came into force. Less than 70 percent of the total population has a currently valid vaccination certificate.
Naturally, the widest range of vaccinations is available in the federal capital, Vienna. In any case, a “certain basis” will continue to be maintained. The suspension of the obligation to vaccinate “will not contribute to increasing the willingness to vaccinate,” said the office of City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) to the APA. The need is continuously evaluated, the existing, well-functioning infrastructure enables targeted replanning. The staff will be adapted to the needs.
In Styria, the range of vaccination routes was already reduced at the beginning of March and the days on which the vaccination routes are open will be further restricted in April. In addition, two of the current 17 vaccination lines will also be closed in April. According to coordinator Harald Eitner, in view of the suspension of compulsory vaccination, possible further reductions in the offer in May and June, possibly even in July, will now be examined closely. However, both the infrastructure and the staff must be kept in order to be able to start up again for the fourth stitch if necessary. Currently, only about 500 stitches are placed in Styria per day, including all 17 vaccination routes.
In Carinthia it was announced two weeks ago that the country’s vaccination offer would be reduced due to low demand – and this plan would be adhered to, said Gerd Kurath from the state press service when asked by APA. Until March 15, the vaccination centers in the district cities will no longer be vaccinated from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from March 16 only from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. From April 1, the number of vaccination routes will be reduced, and by the end of August there will only be two vaccination centers – in Klagenfurt and Villach – where vaccinations take place on Saturdays. From the beginning of September, the vaccination centers could then be started up again. However, vaccinations are still carried out by the resident doctors.
According to the Lower Austria emergency call, vaccinations will be available in nine state vaccination centers and at resident doctors in Lower Austria from mid-March. A vaccination bus will also continue to be on the road, two vehicles will remain in stand-by mode. “There will continue to be a nationwide vaccination program in Lower Austria,” stated Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) at a press conference in St. Pölten. The opening hours of the state vaccination centers have already been reduced, said Health Minister Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ). Due to possible further variants in the future, offers are kept on stand-by. “We will see that we can increase the vaccination offers as quickly as possible if it is required,” emphasized Königsberger-Ludwig.
When asked by the APA, the state of Tyrol said that the vaccination offer was constantly being evaluated and an “upcoming adjustment” was currently being finalized. “With regard to current needs, adaptations will in all likelihood be made,” says the state. Specifically, opening hours and locations are to be adjusted, with a flexible extension of opening times and locations according to demand – in the short term and with a view to the coming months – still being guaranteed. “Possible changes are based on comprehensive needs and forecast analyzes and will in any case be designed in such a way that the expected inflow is covered and an increase in capacity is possible at any time. The state will be informed about this shortly,” it was announced.
The state of Salzburg adapted the vaccination system about two weeks ago. “We can currently administer around 20,000 stitches per week, but we can adjust up or down at any time at short notice,” said a country spokesman. However, the actual demand was far lower recently: In the past seven days, only around 1,600 vaccinations were counted in the entire state, including just 186 first stitches. This week the vaccination route in the exhibition center was closed because a reception center for war refugees is being built there. However, there are still vaccination routes in the state capital (train station), in Hallein, St. Johann and Zell am See, as well as the vaccination bus and many resident doctors, some of whom even administer vaccinations without registering.
In Burgenland, the opening hours of the BITZ (Burgenland Vaccination and Test Centers) were already adjusted to the falling demand on March 1st and thus reduced, according to the Corona virus coordination staff for the APA. No other changes are currently planned.
In Vorarlberg, no vaccination options were canceled due to the suspension of compulsory vaccination. However, according to information from the state press office, the vaccination opportunities were already adjusted to the low demand at the beginning of March at the APA’s request. There are currently no more vaccination booths in the shopping centers, the opening times and capacities of the vaccination centers have been reduced. If necessary, the offer can be expanded again at any time and very quickly.
Source: Nachrichten
