New corona vaccine: The locations in Upper Austria

The website gemmaboostern.at of the Association of Vaccine Manufacturers (ÖVIH), presented on Thursday, links to the vaccination locations in the respective federal state. In addition to the city of Linz’s vaccination service in the forecourt of the New Town Hall, around 30 practices are listed throughout the country – from Ulrichsberg to Sierning via Ried and Bad Ischl. According to the Medical Association, you should first contact your family doctor.

• Upper Austria overview: You can make appointments for a booster corona vaccination at these doctor’s offices

For whom a refresher is recommended

The “booster” is particularly recommended for people aged 60 and over and for risk groups such as pregnant women and chronically ill people as well as for health workers. In addition, the National Vaccination Board (NIG) recommends vaccination for all people aged twelve and over. In principle, the vaccine is approved from the age of six months, “everything speaks in favor of the vaccination”, it is effective and safe and on the other hand there is “a certain level of infection,” says the doctor Maria Paulke-Korinek from the Department of Immunization at the Ministry of Health.

Increasing infection numbers

“You can already see that there has been a slight increase,” the ministry expert referred to the numbers of hospital admissions with Covid-19 on the SARI dashboard – SARI stands for severe acute respiratory infections. “When monitoring wastewater, we also see a slight increase in circulating viruses,” reported Paulke-Korinek. Corona is no longer a reportable disease, but “the coronavirus is here to stay”.

1.9 million vaccine doses ordered

1.9 million doses of XBB.1.5. According to Paulke-Korinek, adapted mRNA vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer were ordered. These can already be requested by doctors and vaccinated in ordinations. The soon-expected approval of the adapted protein vaccine from Novavax will be followed by a million doses from this manufacturer. The NIG currently only recommends variant vaccines directed against XBB, informed the expert from the Ministry of Health. According to initial clinical data, these also work against newer Omicron offshoots such as “Eris” and “Pirola,” assured German vaccination expert Otfried Kistner at the press conference.

Why only one vaccination (instead of three) is necessary

During the course of the pandemic, there is a 95 percent probability that people over the age of five have already been exposed to the virus through vaccination and/or infection, explained Paulke-Korinek. Therefore, for people of this age and above, even with a first vaccination, only one vaccination is necessary instead of three. Healthy people should maintain a minimum interval of six months from their last exposure to the virus (infection or vaccination). Certain people can be vaccinated after just four months.

Cold or Corona?

The question of exposure is difficult; some patients are unsure whether their last cold was Covid or not, reported Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied, a general practitioner in Vienna. She therefore wanted diagnostic tools for Covid, RS virus and influenza in ordinations. The doctor is also happy that the vaccinations were placed in the practice area because she keeps records and can advise on the infections and vaccinations as well as other illnesses of her patients. Anyone who comes to ordinations with symptoms should wear a mask, demanded Kamaleyan-Schmied. “Please use common sense, if you are sick, use a mask,” whether with Covid or another cold. She also recommended increased hand washing and disinfection.

“Vaccination is like an airbag in the car”

“Boster Gemma! Reduce the risk of a serious course!” ÖVIH President Renée Gallo-Daniel quoted the slogan of the campaign, which was initiated by her advocacy group. “There is a certain level of vaccination fatigue and we are also seeing that Covid-19 cases are increasing again,” she explained. The educational campaign should encourage vaccination. In response to questions from people who doubt the effectiveness of the vaccination, Kamaleyan-Schmied emphasized that it is not said that the vaccination protects against infection, but “the point is that it protects against severe cases”. She also explained this to one of her patients, who then aptly stated: “The vaccination is actually like an airbag in the car.”

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