The overall procurement project has “financial implications of 448,386,840 euros,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) to the Council of Ministers on (tomorrow) Wednesday in an application. Vaccination is “still the most promising means of overcoming the dynamic Covid-19 pandemic in the long term,” he emphasizes.
“In addition, it is essential to ensure good medical treatment of risk groups, who have a higher probability of a severe course of the disease, with appropriate drugs,” explains Rauch. The basis for the procurement were the recommendations of the specially set up working group “Covid-19 Therapy Board” of the Supreme Medical Council. In cooperation with the Federal Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance, it was possible to make quick decisions.
The first contracts to procure Regkirona, Lagevrio and Xevudy were signed in early December 2021. Deliveries of tens of thousands of doses or therapy cycles reached Austria before the end of the year. At the beginning of 2022, the contracts with AstraZeneca and Pfizer for the procurement of Evusheld and Paxlovid were signed, according to the Ministry of Health’s interim balance. So far, more than 10,000 Covid 19 patients at risk of serious illnesses have been treated.
Source: Nachrichten
