Rising numbers

Medical association urgently calls for measles vaccination

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Almost 270 cases of measles have been recorded in Austria since the beginning of the year. It would be possible to eradicate the disease if the population were also vaccinated, the Austrian Medical Association has now warned. The chamber is also calling for PCR tests and titer determinations to be covered by health insurance.

The triple vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella - usually administered in the first year of life - is apparently being increasingly rejected in Austria, as measles is back. Now the Austrian Medical Association is also intervening and calling for measles vaccination in view of the increasing number of cases.

"Vaccinations can prevent many serious illnesses and save a great deal of suffering," said Edgar Wutscher, Chairman of the Federal Curia of General Practitioners. The chamber also wants PCR tests and titer determinations to be covered by health insurance. Almost 270 cases of measles were recorded this year. In the previous year, Austria was already the European leader in the number of reported cases.

Free vaccination offer
The measles vaccination (MMR) is currently offered free of charge without age restrictions, and two MMR vaccinations are recommended in the vaccination schedule from the age of nine months. The aim is "to eradicate measles altogether, which is possible with this vaccination - if the population also gets vaccinated", said Rudolf Schmitzberger, Head of the Department for Vaccination Matters at the Medical Association.

In particular, people born between the end of the 1960s and the mid-1970s would not have sufficient vaccination protection due to the vaccine used at that time.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

If measles is suspected, doctors' surgeries should be contacted in advance by telephone or telemedicine in order to avoid infection, says Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied, deputy chairwoman of the Federal Curia of Registered Doctors.

The Medical Association is also calling for PCR tests to be covered by health insurance. These could provide a diagnosis as quickly as possible and prevent infection. In many cases, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) does not cover the costs, emphasized Dietmar Bayer, deputy chairman of the Federal Curia of Registered Doctors. Kamaleyan-Schmied also criticized the fact that titer tests, which provide clarity about vaccination status, are not covered by health insurance.