02/12/2020 12:27
(Act. 12.02.2020 12:27)
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There are still clear vaccination gaps in Austria.
© APA (subject)
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Experts criticize that despite various free offers, there are still significant vaccine gaps in measles, pneumococci and HPV.
In 1802 Austria was the first country in which compulsory immunization was introduced with smallpox vaccination. In 2020, however, there are still major gaps in vaccine protection, experts found on Wednesday at a seminar organized by the Association of Austrian Vaccine Manufacturers (ÖVIH).
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Criticism of low measles vaccination rate in children
The Ministry of Health has meanwhile repeatedly analyzed the immunization rates in children against polio (also applies to whooping cough) and measles (also applies to mumps and rubella / MMR because of the combination vaccine). The measles vaccination rate for measles for the second vaccination is currently around 82 percent for the two- to five-year-olds. Maria Paulke-Korinek from the Ministry of Health said that around 47,000 children in this age group should receive a second vaccination. MMR vaccination rates of 95 percent are definitely necessary in order to achieve adequate protection against the dangerous disease and it in Austria – as required by the World Health Organization (WHO) – to exterminate.
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The deficits also affect school children. “27,000 children in the age group of six to nine-year-olds are not adequately protected against measles,” said Maria Paulke-Korinek. Only 89 percent received the second vaccine dose. While ten to 18-year-olds are then 95 percent protected in Austria, this rate is only 70 percent for 19 to 30-year-olds. This is a group of around 350,000 people who can be infected.
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Second vaccination is often “forgotten”
Usually
all children should also take the
MMR immunization with the first dose from the completed ninth
Month of life received, then the second dose after another three months.
In 2019 there were 151 measles cases in Austria, in 2018 there were 77, in
2015 even 309. Outbreaks are obviously possible at any time.
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The reason why the second and partly necessary vaccination with the MMR vaccine, which is essential for protection, is “forgotten”, the Viennese pediatrician Peter Voitl said: “Just around the end of the first year of life, some vaccinations come together.” “But you can combine several vaccinations for children in one day,” said Rudolf Schmitzberger, head of the vaccination department at the Austrian Medical Association. Don’t worry.
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Pneumococcal disease for young children is at high risk
Totally underestimated at
Children and adults alike will understand the importance of
Pneumococcal diseases, said Schmitzberger: “The pneumococci
claim 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year. With the measles
there are around 500,000. There are 14 million worldwide every year
Pneumococcal pneumonia. The pathogens challenge most
Deaths from a vaccine-preventable disease. “
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Most invasive and potentially life-threatening pneumococcal diseases occur in the under five year olds. Immunization is carried out as part of the Austrian child vaccination program at the third month of life (week 9), then after two months. A booster shot is then given after another six months. Recently, a vaccine has been used in the program that protects against 13 serotypes of the pathogens.
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According to the latest figures, in
Austria already registered 611 invasive pneumococcal diseases.
Since 2014 (323 such diseases) it has become a constant
Rise came.
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All people over the age of 60 should also be immunized against pneumococci. Apart from the most serious invasive diseases, this prevents many pneumonia. In children, the rate of painful middle ear infections is also reduced.
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Low demand for HPV vaccinations
De facto would be perfectly preventable
Cervical cancer and problems like genital warts when all children –
as also provided in the children’s vaccination program – against the human papilloma
Virus (HPV) would be protected. Despite the free provision of the
Vaccination is the vaccination rate in boys and girls aged
only nine percent in Austria for nine to ten years
Elmar Joura, gynecologist at the University Women’s Clinic in Vienna (MedUni / AKH).
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On
on the other hand, around 400 still fall ill in Austria each year
Women with cervical cancer caused by HPV. At 6,700
Women suffer from gynecological precursors to cervical cancer
Interventions (conization). The number of patients with
Genital warts diagnoses are around 15,000 a year.
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