25 August 2021 Information in English

Registration for the coronavirus vaccination is via the registration platforms of the respective Federal States (Bundesländer): Coronavirus Vaccination – Register Now! (sozialministerium.at)

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The vaccine Comirnaty from the manufacturer BioNTech/Pfizer is administered according to the product information in two partial vaccinations at an interval of 21 days with a possible interval of (19 to 42 days).

The vaccine Spikevax from the manufacturer Moderna is administered according to the product information in two partial vaccinations at an interval of 28 days with a possible interval of 21 to 42 days.

The vaccine Vaxzevria from the manufacturer AstraZeneca is administered in two partial vaccinations; the National Vaccination Committee (NIG) recommends an interval of four to eight weeks between vaccine doses due to the current situation in connection with the Delta variant.

The vaccine COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen from the manufacturer Johnson&Johnson (Janssen) is administered as a single vaccination.

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The duration of protection after a coronavirus vaccination is not yet conclusively known for any approved vaccine, but according to current data, protection of at least 9 months can be assumed (calculated from the 2nd dose or, in the case of the vaccine from Johnson&Johnson (Janssen), from the 1st dose / single dose). For this reason it is not yet known if, or when, boosters will be necessary. Appropriate recommendations will be made based on the results of further studies.

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According to current scientific knowledge, the coronavirus vaccination provides so-called individual protection. On a personal level, vaccination means minimising the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and becoming severely ill or even dying from COVID-19. If, in exceptional cases, COVID-19 disease occurs despite vaccination, the course of the disease is much milder and complications and deaths are avoided.

In addition, data from the use of COVID-19 vaccines indicate that vaccinated individuals have a lower viral load and significantly reduced viral shedding, meaning they are less infectious than unvaccinated individuals.

More detailed information can be found in the Specialist Information section in "COVID-19 Vaccinations: Application Recommendations of the National Vaccination Committee".

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According to the current state of knowledge, the coronavirus vaccination definitely provides individual protection. There is also increasing evidence from the use of COVID-19 vaccines that vaccinated individuals have a lower viral load and reduced viral shedding, and are thus less infectious than unvaccinated individuals. This effect cannot yet be definitively determined (is not yet quantifiable), and is also likely to depend on the specific vaccine and the infecting SARS-CoV-2 variant.

In contrast, individuals who have experienced symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection may also become re-infected, but in such cases it is again assumed that these individuals do not have a significant role in disease transmission. This was taken into account within the context of contact person management in cases of contact with a person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. If vaccinated individuals have close contact with an individual who has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, these can be considered Category II contact persons (from the 22nd day after the first dose until 6 months after the 2nd dose).

The protective measures in force in each case, such as the compulsory wearing of a face mask and distancing and hygiene regulations, must be complied with until a sufficient number of people have received a coronavirus vaccination.

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Individuals with known allergies, e.g. allergies to aeroallergens such as pollen or house dust, can and should be vaccinated against COVID-19. Any allergies will be discussed in your clarifying consultation with the attending doctor. Allergy passports should therefore be brought to the vaccination appointment, as these contain information on possible allergens. After the coronavirus vaccination, allergy sufferers are advised to wait at least 30 minutes at the vaccination site under medical supervision. If an allergic shock (anaphylaxis) ever occurred after a vaccination in the past, you must tell the doctor before the coronavirus vaccination.

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So far and without exception, no abnormalities have been detected with experiences in the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women. Data specifically on mRNA vaccines has now been published, which is why mRNA vaccines should be favoured when vaccinating pregnant women. Pregnant women are at high risk for severe disease progression of COVID-19. Accordingly, and after a careful individual benefit-risk evaluation, vaccination against COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine can be administered to pregnant women. For the benefit-risk evaluation, reference is made to the current version of the Recommendations of the Austrian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. This is an off label use which should be referred to in a documented manner. Postponing the vaccination to the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy as a precautionary measure is indicated to counter theoretical concerns. A routine pregnancy test is not necessary before vaccination. In the case of a pregnancy occurring around the period of a vaccination, this does not result in an indication for abortion. The pregnancy is also not classified as a risk pregnancy.

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Individuals who are ill with an acute infection should only be vaccinated against COVID-19 when they have completely regained their health and have recovered.

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According to the original assessment for infection with variants that have circulated so far, protection was expected for 6-8 months. Due to the current epidemiological situation with an increasing proportion of delta variants and possibly new and more infectious variants, the recommendation is adapted as follows: After a SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by laboratory diagnostics (detection by a PCR test), vaccination is recommended from approx. 4 weeks following infection or illness (after recovery), in order to also ensure currently best possible protection against the delta variant. In persons in whom an infection has been confirmed by PCR or neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (neutralisation tests/corresponding NT correlates), a single vaccination is sufficient (off label), even if the infection occurred more than 8 months ago. Immunologically, this is equivalent to a booster. Corresponding studies show that these persons need only one vaccination to achieve comparable protection to non-infected, regularly vaccinated persons according to the regular vaccination schedule.
Regardless of the medical/immunological assessment, two doses may be required for entry into a country when travelling internationally. In such cases, a 2nd dose can and should be given for official reasons, which is also in accordance with the marketing authorisation, and must not be withheld. If vaccination is administered twice, an increased rate of reactions to vaccination in convalescents cannot be ruled out.
If a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR test) occurs in the interval between the 1st dose and 2nd dose, the 2nd dose is recommended from approximately 4 weeks after the infection or illness (following recovery) (off label).

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The vaccines Comirnaty from the company Pfizer/BioNTech and Spikevax from the company Moderna were approved, after efficacy and safety testing, at the end of May 2021 and on 23 July 2021 respectively by the European authorities for use in children aged 12 years and older. Approval studies of both vaccines in children and adolescents aged 12 years and older have shown the vaccines to be safe and highly effective in the prevention of symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease in children and adolescents aged 12 years and older.  

In Austria, vaccination is recommended in the 12-15 age group according to the prioritisation list of the National Vaccination Committee (NIG). Vaccination is recommended in Austria in the 12-15 age group according to the National Vaccination Committee (NIG) prioritisation list. This means that high-risk children for example can and should be immediately vaccinated because they have a high risk of contracting severe COVID-19. Children and adolescents aged 12 years and older without high-risk factors should be vaccinated if adults have had the appropriate vaccination opportunities.

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Based on current knowledge, the approved COVID-19 vaccines provide individual protection. High vaccination participation within the population will significantly reduce the disease burden, prevent severe cases and deaths, and reduce the burden on the health care system. After a vaccination, the likelihood that a vaccinated person will infect others in their circle of friends or family is significantly reduced. This protects (still) unvaccinated persons and persons who do not develop an immune response after vaccination from contracting COVID-19 disease.

Although children and adolescents rarely contract severe COVID-19 compared to adults, severe courses of the disease such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which often requires treatment in intensive care, have also been reported in Austria with a frequency of 1:500 to 1:1000 infected children and adolescents. There is increasing evidence that children and adolescents can also suffer in the long term from the consequences of COVID-19 disease ("long COVID") following mild and asymptomatic courses of the disease. Vaccination protects from falling ill and from potentially severe consequences of the illness. In addition, it must be considered that children may not only become ill themselves but can also contribute to the general incidence of infection.

COVID-19 Vaxzevria from AstraZeneca, Spikevax from Moderna and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen are not currently approved for persons under 18 years of age.

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Yes. Approval studies of the Comirnaty and Spikevax mRNA vaccines in children and adolescents of 12 years of age and older have shown the vaccines to be safe and highly effective in the prevention of symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease in children and adolescents from 12 years of age.  

As with adults, people in this age group may have expected bodily reactions to the vaccine after a COVID-19 vaccination, which usually go away on their own within a few days. Local and systemic reactions in 12 to 15-year olds were similar to those reported in persons aged 16 years and older: redness, swelling, a warming of the skin or pain may occur at the injection site (usually on the upper arm). General complaints such as headache, weariness, fever etc. may also occur. All of these symptoms indicate the body's normal reaction to the vaccine, which leads to the protective effect. However, the reactions described are much less harmful than the symptoms and possible consequential damages of the disease, which can be prevented by the vaccination! If exhaustion or fever occur up to three weeks after vaccination, physical exertion should be avoided. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, after examining the application for marketing authorisation, concluded that the benefit of vaccination also outweighs the risk in this age group.

The safety and efficacy of vaccination in children and adults will continue to be closely monitored, not only within the framework of the European pharmacovigilance system, but also globally. Up to the end of June the vaccine has been used several million times in this age group in the U.S. and Canada, and there is also no evidence of safety concerns within this broad use. Vaccination is therefore recommended in Austria in the 12-15 age group according to the prioritisation list of the National Vaccination Committee (NIG).

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Yes. Known reactions often occur after the coronavirus vaccination, but they usually subside on their own within a few days. Pain, redness and swelling may very frequently occur at the injection site. Symptoms such as tiredness, headache, muscle or joint pain, swelling of the lymph nodes, nausea/vomiting, shivering or fever are also experienced very frequently. Very frequent means that more than one in ten vaccinated persons are affected. The doctor responsible for you or you yourself can report any suspected adverse reactions via nebenwirkung.basg.gv.at  Further information on reporting suspected adverse reactions is available at http://www.basg.gv.at/marktbeobachtung/meldewesen/nebenwirkungen

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Yes. Each approved vaccine is effective, extensively tested, and well suited to prevent severe courses of disease and deaths. In the discussion about 'percentages of protection', it should be considered that there is no vaccination that guarantees 100% protection.

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