Despite established vaccination programs, classic diseases such as measles and whooping cough remain a serious challenge. In Austria, there have recently been numerous cases of the disease due to lower vaccination coverage rates. The Austrian Vaccination Day 2025 is therefore focusing on vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, whooping cough and influenza. In cooperation with MedUni Vienna, the Austrian Medical Association.
On 18 January 2025, under the title "Vaccinated - Protected - Safe!" and chaired by Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt, Head of the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology at MedUni Vienna, numerous top experts will shed light on current issues relating to vaccination.At a press conference today, Monday, December 9, 2024, Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt, Rudolf Schmitzberger, Head of the Vaccination Department of the Austrian Medical Association, and Gerhard Kobinger, 2nd Vice President of the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists, spoke, among other things, about the great need to catch up on vaccination coverage rates.
A central theme of this year’s Vaccination Day is the so-called classic vaccine-preventable diseases, which continue to pose a threat despite existing vaccination programs."Measles and whooping cough have once again become a serious problem," emphasizes Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt.This year, the number of cases of pertussis has returned to the pre-vaccination era in the early 1960s.
As far as measles is concerned, Austria has over 500 cases this year, making it one of the ten countries in Europe with the highest incidence of measles. The majority of those infected are unvaccinated or have only received the first of the two recommended vaccinations. In terms of age, both children and young adults (=30 years) are affected. Wiedermann-Schmidt points out that measles has received less media attention, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to a decline in awareness. She also sees a reluctance on the part of politicians to address the issue of vaccination, as social discussions and controversies in this area are hampering the vaccination system in Austria.
Prevention in the workplace and innovative vaccines
Another central theme of the Vaccination Day is prevention at various social interfaces. According to Wiedermann-Schmidt, the workplace offers a special opportunity to reach people of working age who rarely go to the doctor because they feel healthy. "If we bring vaccinations and information directly to where people spend the most time, we can increase the willingness to be vaccinated and contribute to prevention - this is also in line with the WHO strategy," explains the expert.
In view of the rising number of cases, the Austrian vaccination plan has therefore been adjusted, adds Rudolf Schmitzberger, Head of the Vaccination Department of the Austrian Medical Association: "The first booster for the pertussis vaccination is particularly important from the age of six, before starting school," he emphasizes. The first protection against pertussis is passed on to the child through the recommended vaccination in the last trimester of pregnancy: "In addition to pertussis, vaccinations against influenza and RSV are also recommended for pregnant women," says the vaccination expert. Schmitzberger would like to see greater awareness here: "There should be an even greater focus on prevention for mother and child." The same applies to the HPV vaccination: "In Scandinavian countries, the HPV vaccination is a must-have, but unfortunately only a nice-to-have here." The Austrian Medical Association is also continuing its efforts to close the gap between the successful free childhood vaccination program and vaccinations for adults - for example, vaccinations against pneumococci.
Vaccination helps, vaccination protects!
"Unfortunately, vaccination coverage rates in Austria have traditionally been subterranean. According to the EU health authority ECDC, we are in last place in the EU ranking for vaccinations against whooping cough with a vaccination coverage rate of 84%. Austria also has the worst vaccination coverage rate for hepatitis B in the EU at 84%," says Gerhard Kobinger from the ÖAK. "One reason for this is that there is a lot of misinformation on the subject, which has led to even greater vaccination fatigue. Yet there is the opportunity to get professional information on the subject virtually on every corner: in the 1,450 pharmacies throughout Austria."
Professional vaccination advice is part of the daily routine for the more than 7,000 pharmacists - regardless of whether it’s about initial vaccinations for children and adolescents or booster vaccinations for adults. A trained look at customers’ vaccination records - whether analog or digital - by pharmacists is also part of this routine. "Booster intervals, for example against TBE or diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, can change with age. But hardly anyone pays attention to this. However, appropriate protection against various diseases can only be guaranteed if vaccinations are given at the correct intervals. That’s why a vaccination record is important at any age."
5-C model of the WHO
Sound advice on vaccination is essential to motivate people to get vaccinated. According to the WHO, a positive vaccination decision depends on five C-factors:
- Confidence: People who have confidence in the safety of vaccinations also get vaccinated.
- Complacency (risk perception): Vaccinations must not be perceived as unnecessary. For example, if they are intended to protect against diseases that hardly ever occur.
- Constraints or convenience: It must be as easy as possible to get vaccinated. This includes, among other things, the availability of vaccines and the lowest possible threshold for getting vaccinated. For booster vaccinations for healthy adults, pharmacies would also be available as an additional point of contact.
- Calculation: Weighing up the benefits and risks should normally lead to getting vaccinated. Exceptions such as pre-existing conditions should of course be taken into account when giving vaccination advice.
- Collective responsibility (sense of responsibility for the community): It should not apply that vaccinations are unnecessary for oneself if everyone else has been vaccinated.
Innovations in vaccine development and the role of the media in health communication
New vaccines that are about to be introduced will also be presented at the Austrian Vaccination Day: a five-fold vaccine against meningococcus and a vaccine against chikungunya. A new Lyme disease vaccine is also being developed and improved pneumococcal vaccines will be presented for the first time. In the wake of increasing global antibiotic resistance, new vaccine developments such as those against common urinary tract and intestinal infections will also be discussed.
A scientific highlight of the vaccination day will be the presentation by renowned vaccine researcher Florian Krammer, who will talk about new developments in the field of vaccinations against respiratory diseases. Topics will include new vaccines against influenza and avian flu, which are important in view of a possible new pandemic. Köksal Baltaci, journalist and expert in health communication, will give a lecture on the role of the media in health education. A key topic: What role do the internet and social media play in modern health education?
The Austrian Vaccination Day offers a valuable platform for professional exchange on vaccination topics and underlines the importance of a socially supported and active vaccination system.
Austrian Vaccination Day 2025: Saturday, 18 January 2025 "Vaccinated - Protected - Safe!", hybrid (online or in person) conference and trade exhibition from 8:00-17:00 at the Austria Center Vienna. The Austrian Vaccination Day is the largest trend-setting vaccination event for doctors, pharmacists and representatives of other healthcare professions and is organized by the Austrian Academy of Physicians in cooperation with MedUni Vienna, the Austrian Medical Association and the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists. All information, registration and program: www.impftag.at.
