The first doses of the adapted coronavirus vaccines have been administered in the country’s vaccination centers since the middle of the week – there was no rush. Further vaccines adapted to new virus variants should be available next week.
The wait for the adapted coronavirus vaccines is over for the time being. The vaccine from Biontech-Pfizer, which has been adapted to the BA.1 variant, has been in use since Wednesday. This is vaccinated in the vaccination centers, but also in the vaccination buses and in doctor’s offices. It should be clarified with the doctor whether the previously used vaccine or the adapted vaccine will be used. The Ministry of Health hopes that this will provide better protection against the prevailing omicron mutation variants BA.4 and BA.5.
There has been no run on the adapted vaccination to date, but the Lower Austrian emergency call center speaks of an “increased demand”. According to the Lower Austria emergency call, around 1,200 initial and booster vaccinations were carried out on the first possible day of vaccination with the adapted vaccine, but not all of them with the new vaccine. Some people wanted to receive the vaccine that they had already tolerated well at the previous appointment.
More new vaccines coming soon
Meanwhile, delivery of Moderna’s new vaccine “Spikevax” is already underway. Around 1.7 million Moderna vaccine doses are to be delivered to Austria over the course of September. Every fifth vaccine dose goes to Lower Austria.
The Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection says that the second vaccine from Biontech-Pfizer could arrive as early as next week. This is adapted to the currently prevailing variants BA.4 and BA.5.
The difference between the two vaccines is not blatant, it is emphasized. The vaccine, which has been adapted to the BA.1 variant, shows good effects against BA.4 and BA.5, according to the Ministry of Health.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) calls for the vaccination to be refreshed. “Vaccinations are one of the most important measures to ensure that we get through autumn and winter well,” says Rauch. The new vaccines would provide additional funds to protect the population from severe coronavirus disease.