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COVID-19 VACCINES

Austria: Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine ‘no longer valid’ for Covid pass

Anyone vaccinated with a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in Austria will no longer be deemed fully vaccinated from January 3rd, 2022, onwards, unless they have received a second dose.

Published: 29 December 2021 18:45 CET
The J&J vaccine. Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP
The J&J vaccine. Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP

This change in vaccine validity was first announced by the government in November.

Approximately 260,000 people have been vaccinated with the J&J vaccine in Austria since the start of the vaccination campaign. 

Of those, around 75,000 have not received a booster. 

The Austrian government has for some time recommended people who received the J&J vaccine – along with those who were vaccinated with Astra Zeneca – to get an mRNA vaccine (either Moderna or Pfizer/Biontech) as a booster. 

Anyone who has received the Johnson and Johnson jab is recommended to get a booster shot 28 days afterwards. 

The reason for the policy change is a belief that the J&J jab has a lower effectiveness against the Omicron variant, the government confirmed on Wednesday. 

“The requirement for a second vaccination with Janssen in order to receive a valid vaccination certificate is based on the latest scientific data that are available to us in Austria” the government said on Wednesday. 

“In the case of a Janssen vaccination, a refresher of the vaccination protection seems to be necessary – especially in view of the Omikron variant. 

“Therefore, we call on all people who have been vaccinated once with Janssen to be vaccinated again for their own protection.”

Member comments

  2. Why is there no discussion of monoclonal antibody treatment in Austria? How many people would have been kept out of the hospital with a proper early outpatient monoclonal antibody program during the Delta wave? See Florida’s program. The obsession with the current Covid vaccines is becoming stranger by the day given emerging data showing poor effectiveness against Omicron.

    1. Vaccines are a fence at the top of the cliff. monoclonal antibody treatment is a tree branch half way down.

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COVID-19 VACCINES

What to know about Austria’s new advice on Covid vaccines

As the coronavirus pandemic progressed, each country developed its own vaccination recommendation, which often changed. Here is the new advice from the Austrian vaccination panel.

Published: 29 November 2022 14:39 CET
What to know about Austria's new advice on Covid vaccines

The Austrian National Vaccination Panel has updated its recommendations on Covid vaccination on several points, the Ministry of Health announced.

“Special attention continues to be paid to the completion of the basic immunisation, which is recommended for all persons five years of age and older, and to the booster vaccination,” according to the Ministry of Health.

The booster shot is generally available to all persons 12 years of age and older and is free of charge, but it is especially recommended for persons 60 years of age and older and those at risk.

READ ALSO: Masks against Covid and flu: What’s ahead for Austria this winter

In Austria, the basic immunisation against Covid-19 consists of three vaccine doses. A fourth dose, also known as a booster shot, is also recommended.

What is new in the recommendation?

Austria is adding a new coronavirus vaccine, from Sanofi (VidPrevtyn Beta), to the list of offers against the virus. The new vaccine is protein-based and has already been approved by the European authorities. 

In Austria, the Sanofi vaccine can be used from the third vaccination onwards on people older than 18. The offer will be available at the vaccination sites in the coming week at the earliest, according to the Ministry. 

READ ALSO: Colds and flu: What to do and say if you get sick in Austria

Another change is that the variant Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 from BioNTech/Pfizer will also be used for the third vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years. 

This vaccine is specially adapted to the virus variants Omicron BA.4 and 5. It is now available for children in a special application shot that should be in vaccination sites starting next week at the earliest. 

READ ALSO: What to expect from the ski season in Austria this winter

Also included in the recommendations is a clarification specifically on an additional booster vaccination (fifth vaccination). 

People at risk from the age of 18, and those from the age of 60 can receive the additional booster vaccination four months after the fourth vaccination. According to the vaccination panel, no fifth vaccination is necessary for healthy people under 60.

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