The Austrian federal government is currently negotiating with pharmacies to launch a vaccination program for adults by early 2027. To address supply bottlenecks, the Ministry of Health recently secured 100,000 additional doses of the influenza vaccine.
The program may roll out in stages, starting with vaccines not included in the free public program, such as FSME. This initiative follows data showing less than 25 percent of Austrians over 65 are vaccinated against flu, compared to 40 percent in Germany.
Johannes Steinhart, president of the Austrian Medical Chamber, opposes the plan due to safety and training concerns. Meanwhile, the public vaccination budget is 450 million euros through 2028, as experts urge COVID-19 boosters for those over 60 and staff.