Remove organisational and financial barriers to vaccination!

Vaccinations that are officially recommended are to be free of charge

In autumn 2023, 90 million euros were also announced for free vaccination programmes. The Ministry of Health has repeatedly stated that it is evaluating which vaccinations this should apply to. Progress has been made with the HPV vaccination, but still nothing has happened with the expensive herpes zoster vaccination.

Shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus, is a serious and very painful disease. It can make you blind, for example. The likelihood of contracting the disease increases with age. Every year, 40,000 people in Austria contract shingles - half of them are older than 50. Despite vaccination being recommended for people aged 50 and over, there is not even a cost subsidy for the vaccination - you have to pay the full 500 euros for it yourself. "After the inflation in recent years, this is not affordable, especially for older people with low pensions," says Achitz.

"We are not in a position to pay the 1,000 euros"

A pensioner recently wrote to the Austrian Ombudsman Board: "My husband and I are pensioners, my husband gets the minimum pension, I don't get much more. We both had cold sores as children, our immune systems are weakened, we were ill a lot in autumn and we both had Covid. I get cold sores on my lips, cheeks and nose very easily. That means we would actually have the indication for the shingles vaccination, but we're not in a position to afford the 1,000 euros."

"There's not much money left at the end of the month, I have to save up for every vaccination"

Another woman wrote: "I am a pensioner with a minimal income, for me it is already bad when I have to pay for the regular vaccinations (such as tetanus, diphtheria, measles, etc.), most of which cost around 50 euros (+-), because I don't have that much money left over at the end of the month, i.e. I have to save up for each vaccination."

Ask whether the health insurance company will cover the shingles vaccination in individual cases!

"However, it can't hurt to ask your health insurance company whether they will pay for the vaccination anyway," recommends Achitz, as the vaccination can be considered early medical treatment that is covered by the health insurance if you have a significant immune deficiency or for dialysis patients, for example: "If you are refused, you can contact the Ombudsman's Office. We can then enquire with the health insurance company."

Prevention is cheaper than treating illnesses later on

Otherwise, vaccinations are not health treatment in the sense of statutory health insurance, but preventative healthcare measures. The Ministry of Health is responsible for this. Achitz: "In the current budget situation, it is of course difficult to free up more money for prevention. But you always have to bear this in mind: In the long term, prevention through vaccination is cheaper than treating the diseases later."