Austria offers free vaccines against pneumococcal herpes and pneumonia for those over 60 years old.
Austria will start offering free vaccinations against shingles and pneumococci to all individuals over 60 years old starting in November. The program aims to protect the elderly, prevent serious illnesses, and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. Health Minister Karina Schumann (SPÖ) stated that younger at-risk individuals will also be eligible for the free vaccines, which will be available directly from doctors.
The shingles vaccine protects against the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can cause painful outbreaks later in life. The pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent bacterial pneumonia, a disease that can be fatal for the elderly. Shuman stated that these vaccines are "medically necessary and cost-effective," noting that they save long-term healthcare costs.
Andreas Hoss from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) confirmed that the program's funding will reach 450 million euros by 2028. It is expected that around 175,000 people will receive vaccinations in the first year, with similar numbers in the following year.
Doctors will register each vaccination in the national electronic vaccination register. The cost of the shingles vaccine is usually around 500 euros for two doses, while the price of the pneumococcal vaccine ranges from 80 to 100 euros, but both will now be offered for free. Officials plan to include all vaccines recommended by the National Immunization Committee (NIG) in the free program in the future.
The Minister of Health in Styria, Karlheinz Kornhauser (ÖVP), described this expansion as an "important achievement" in the field of health prevention. He stated that Austria excels in treating diseases but needs to improve the prevention aspect. Medical organizations and senior associations welcomed this step, while Nagmeh Kamalian-Schmeid from the Vienna Medical Association pointed out that there are other necessary vaccines, such as the tetanus and RSV vaccines, that should also be added to the general program.