All people over the age of twelve should get their fourth vaccination, it said on Wednesday. The vaccination schedule should be followed regardless of infections. Until now, the recommendation for the fourth stitch was for people aged 60 and over. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) expects a significant increase in the number of cases in autumn and made a FFP2 mask recommendation for indoor use. The statement by Health Minister Rauch in full:
Mask requirement probably
“It is likely that in autumn it will be sensible and necessary to wear masks again in certain areas such as public transport or in supermarkets,” said the Minister of Health at a press conference in Vienna. He therefore urges people living in Austria to wear FFP2 masks wherever the minimum distance of two meters cannot be maintained. It is clear that “waves cannot be prevented”, and infections “cannot be prevented in the long term”, said Rauch, who spoke of a “stable development” in the corona situation overall. One had “got through the summer well”.
Clear rejection of compulsory vaccination
“We don’t know exactly what will come in the fall,” in any case, the number of infections and hospitals will also increase due to increased contacts. “Vaccination is and remains the most important measure, there is a willingness to vaccinate,” stated the minister. There is also a recommendation to get tested. The five free PCR and antigen rapid tests will be given free of charge “until spring”, said Rauch. He repeated the words of his predecessor, Rudolf Anschober (Greens): “The next few weeks will be decisive” when it comes to getting vaccinated, said the incumbent Minister of Health. The obligation to vaccinate will under no circumstances be reintroduced, he assured.
Adapted vaccines still in September
Adapted variant vaccines are to be delivered to Austria in September. Unlike his German counterpart, Karl Lauterbach, Rauch did not want to set an exact date. There have already been too many shifts, he explained. In any case, it is certain that the adapted vaccines will come “in September, in October”. As early as Thursday (tomorrow), Rauch expects the EU medicines agency EMA to confirm the approval of the first bivalent vaccines. The vaccine specially adapted for the omicron variant BA.1 is expected first, followed a few weeks later by the vaccine adapted for the current BA.4/BA.5 variant.
“Please don’t wait”
You should never wait for this vaccine. “Please don’t wait, go get vaccinated now,” appealed the vaccination expert NIG-Member Herwig Kollaritsch. “The vaccines that are already available have been used billions of times. They have been tried and tested and continue to provide effective protection against serious illness,” emphasized the infectionologist. The variant vaccines would “not bring any significant improvement in the situation”, it was rather “absolutely unreasonable” to wait for it. It is important to complete the basic immunization with three doses and then to get the refresher. That’s what it’s for NIG now the vaccination recommendation has changed, a few days before school starts. Kollaritsch’s statement in full:
The fourth vaccination is now recommended for all people over the age of twelve with a corresponding interval from the last vaccination, depending on age, from four to six months after completion of the basic immunization (3rd vaccination), explained Kollaritsch. For children from five to eleven years of age, the basic immunization – this consists of three vaccinations – should be completed by the time school starts at the latest. No booster vaccination is currently recommended in this age group. That NIG has also adapted its recommendation to current scientific findings. For people over 60 years of age, a booster vaccination is now recommended four months after completion of the basic immunization.
“I think I can say that in Austria almost no one would have to die from a pure Covid infection if they were vaccinated and if they had access to the therapy,” said Kollartisch. With these two means – vaccination and medication in case of infection – “we can do a lot to get through the autumn wave safely,” the expert affirmed. In any case, the vaccination schedule should be followed regardless of infections. In the case of old variants, an infection had more or less replaced a vaccination, but this is no longer the case with Omikron, explained Kollaritsch.
Vaccination more essential than infection
“Ultimately, anyone who goes through an infection with one of the current variants should remain on their vaccination schedule, regardless of it,” he emphasized. “Vaccination is more important than infection,” the expert said. If you are PCR-negative and healthy, you can go for vaccination after an infection. But that is not a must, you can also wait a few weeks. Kollaritsch emphasized the positive side effect of the refresher. In the first few weeks after the vaccination, this also offers “a certain protection against infection”, which dampens the epidemiological events.
Vaccines can be switched for the booster if you want, Kollaritsch said. “You can easily mix and match,” he explained, explaining that Moderna’s vaccine has proven to be the one with minor benefits so far. However, it is more reactive, i.e. it causes stronger reactions. “You always buy a small disadvantage with an advantage,” stated the infectiologist. For people at risk, it should be considered whether another vaccination outside of the vaccination schedule might make sense, said the expert.
Source: Nachrichten
