Population immunity allows new vaccination recommendation – new vaccine variant expected next week
Vienna (OTS) – Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, a good immunity to the corona virus has developed in the population. The responsible EU authority, ECDC, assumes that practically everyone has had contact with Corona in the last three years – whether through vaccinations or an infection. The National Vaccination Committee has now incorporated this into a new version of the National Vaccination Plan. Next fall, only one vaccination will be recommended – especially for people at risk and people aged 60 and over. Even previously unvaccinated people are considered adequately protected by vaccination with an adapted variant of the vaccine. A vaccine adapted to the XBB.1.5 variants is expected in Austria next week. There are also new vaccination recommendations against RSV, meningococci and hepatitis A. The updated “Austrian Vaccination Plan” will be published early next week at Sozialministerium.at/impfplan. ***
In recent weeks, the National Vaccination Commission has been intensely preparing to update the vaccination plan. New scientific discoveries were discussed, as well as recommendations from European health authorities. This includes not only new recommendations for corona vaccinations, but also for vaccinations against RSV, meningococci and hepatitis A. The new vaccination plan will be published at the beginning of next week.
Vaccination schedule adapted to the population’s immunity
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), good basic immunity against the coronavirus has been created after three years of the pandemic. Whether through vaccination or a previous infection: ECDC assumes that almost everyone has had contact with the virus. For the best possible protection against severe disease progression, vaccination with an adapted variant vaccine is therefore sufficient.
On Wednesday evening, the relevant expert committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended that the EU Commission approve the vaccine adapted to the XBB.1.5 variants (Corminaty from BioNTech/Pfizer). Information on approval from the European Commission is expected today.
The National Vaccination Committee has now taken ECDC’s recommendation into account in its new version of the vaccination plan. Austrian experts also recommend vaccination with the new corona variant vaccines for people aged 12 and over in autumn. Vaccination is particularly recommended for people over 60 years of age, who are at increased risk of developing a serious illness, and for healthcare professionals. Upon individual request, vaccination is still possible from 6 months of age.
For the best possible protection against a severe course of the disease caused by COVID-19, a vaccination next autumn is sufficient – regardless of whether the basic immunization has already been carried out. In line with recommendations from European health authorities, it can be assumed that previously unvaccinated people will also be adequately protected by a single vaccination with the new vaccine variants.
“Even if we have left the corona pandemic behind, the virus will continue to worry us”, emphasizes Health Minister Johannes Rauch. “After three years of the pandemic, general conditions have changed significantly: immunity is significantly greater, vaccines and medicines for COVID-19 are at our disposal. It is still true that vaccination is the best protection. From serious illnesses and from Long COVID!”
Katharina Reich, Director General of Public Health: “With the existing immunity in the population, one vaccination will be sufficient in the future for effective protection against serious diseases. New scientific discoveries and recommendations from European health authorities and the National Vaccination Committee allow us to focus on a refresher course in the autumn, including with corona vaccination. I recommend everyone get information from their doctors in a timely manner.”
The first delivery of the newly approved variant vaccines in Austria has been announced for next week. They are then handed over to the respective federal states. Vaccines are available from several resident doctors, some of them also at public vaccination centers in cities and communities.
RSV vaccine available for the first time
This year, for the first time, the European Commission approved two RSV vaccines for adults. The National Vaccination Panel recommends RSV vaccination for adults aged 60 and over. To date, there has been no active vaccination to protect against lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV. Vaccinations are also expected in Austria in the coming weeks.
“Last autumn we clearly saw that not only Corona, but also RSV and influenza cause many serious illnesses that can overwhelm Austrian hospitals,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch. “I am therefore particularly pleased that we will have vaccines available for all three serious respiratory diseases for the first time this autumn.”
The National Vaccination Committee has also updated previous application recommendations for vaccinations against meningococci and hepatitis A. Consequently, vaccination against hepatitis A is no longer generally recommended, but only under certain conditions, such as vaccination while traveling. In the future, vaccination against meningococcus ACWY will also be recommended from one year of age onwards, replacing vaccination against meningococcus C.
Questions and contact:
Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Welfare and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK)
[email protected]
socialminister.at