The rising incidence of Covid cases has prompted health experts to recommend that vaccinations be administered earlier than previously advised. 

In addition, a newly adapted protein-based vaccine may become available this autumn, offering further protection against the virus.

Experts urge vaccination ahead of new school year and autumn

According to virologist Judith Aberle from the Medical University of Vienna, the national Sentinel system, which monitors respiratory viruses, has shown a marked increase in viral activity throughout Austria in recent weeks. 

In an interview with ORF Wissen, Aberle noted that most of these cases are linked to the SARS coronavirus, which has been circulating more frequently since June. In regions such as Upper Austria and Lower Austria, one in four samples tested has returned positive for SARS-CoV-2, a trend corroborated by wastewater monitoring data.

The variant currently dominating the European infection landscape, including Austria, is KP.3, a member of the Omicron family. This variant produces symptoms similar to its predecessors, such as cold-like symptoms, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, cough, and fever. 

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However, Aberle warns that KP.3 is far from benign, as it can lead to severe complications, particularly in high-risk individuals, affecting the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and nervous system.

“And the infection can lead to chronic long-term consequences in the form of long Covid”, she added while at the same time recommending people get vaccinated.

Maria Paulke-Korinek, head of the vaccination department at the Ministry of Health, echoed these concerns, stressing the heightened risk of infection as schools reopen and people spend more time indoors. 

Speaking on the Ö1-Morgenjournal, Paulke-Korinek advised at-risk individuals to get vaccinated “within the next few weeks”. While otherwise, healthy individuals might delay their vaccination slightly, she recommended that the interval between the last infection or vaccination and the next dose be around twelve months, with a minimum of four months for those who got seriously ill.

What are the vaccine recommendations?

Vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 12 and above, with younger children eligible upon parental request. 

Paulke-Korinek emphasised that the vaccine is approved for children as young as six months, and European authorities have confirmed its safety and effectiveness. Since the end of July, a newly adapted mRNA vaccine, effective against the KP.3 variant, has been available in Austria. 

READ ALSO: Are vaccinations compulsory for children in Austria?

Additionally, an adapted protein vaccine, which includes a synthetically produced protein component from the SARS coronavirus spike protein, is expected to be available in the autumn, pending approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 

Paulke-Korinek noted that both vaccines show comparable effectiveness but suggested that alternating between the two might offer immunological benefits.

As the new school year begins in eastern Austria next week, Aberle from MedUni Vienna stressed the importance of closely monitoring infection rates to track the virus’s development. 

She also urged good ventilation or air filtration in indoor spaces, particularly in schools and nurseries, and recommended wearing masks and staying home if symptomatic to help curb the spread of the virus.

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