Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA1389
2009-10-28 13:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
Austria Halfhearted on H1N1 Vaccination
how-toVZCZCXRO2451 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHVI #1389 3011324 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281324Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3487 INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1260 RUEAUSA/HHS PHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VIENNA 001389
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE, OES/IHB,
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC KFLO PREL AU
SUBJECT: Austria Halfhearted on H1N1 Vaccination
REF: (A) VIENNA 1230; (B) VIENNA 1361; (C) VIENNA 989; (D) VIENNA
891; (E) VIENNA 733; (F) VIENNA 519
UNCLAS VIENNA 001389
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE, OES/IHB,
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC KFLO PREL AU
SUBJECT: Austria Halfhearted on H1N1 Vaccination
REF: (A) VIENNA 1230; (B) VIENNA 1361; (C) VIENNA 989; (D) VIENNA
891; (E) VIENNA 733; (F) VIENNA 519
1. Austria begins vaccinating its healthcare personnel (around
280,000 persons) this week on a voluntary basis. Vaccine developer
Baxter has delivered 500,000 doses of "Celvapan" to the HEALTH
authorities for a 2-shot immunization. According to a HEALTH
Ministry (MOH) survey, 30-35% of registered doctors and only 10% of
hospital personnel are expected to get vaccine. Last year, around
22% of HEALTH personnel were vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
2. Austrians' generally lackadaisical attitude toward H1N1 was
reflected last week in an informal press poll of politicians and
celebrities as to whether they plan to get vaccinated. Almost all
of them, including the Chancellor and the HEALTH Minister (!) said
"no", claiming that they led a healthy life and had "no fear of
infection." Among prominent physicians less than 50% answered that
they would get the shots. As a consequence, the H1N1 vaccination
"turnout" is expected to be very low; in ONE poll taken October 22,
18 percent of respondents said they would take the vaccine.
3. Austrians have, as yet, seen few press reports of serious H1N1
cases within Austria. By the end of last week, Austria's HEALTH
authorities had registered only 421 cumulative H1N1 cases in Austria
-- although on October 27, a school in the state of Tyrol registered
26 new cases. The Ministry of HEALTH is now warning that the number
of undetected cases could be much higher. The same day, the press
reported on the first life-threatening case -- that of an 11-years
old ethnic Austrian girl from Bozen, Italy who has been hospitalized
in Innsbruck. She has been put on artificial respiration.
According to hospital doctors, a combination of a "staphylococcus
superinfection" of her lungs and the H1N1 virus caused serious
damage because of the reaction of her immune system.
4. On November 9, the vaccine will be made available to the general
public. By the end of November, 1.6 million doses for a total of
800,000 vaccinations will be available. Everybody is eligible to
get the shot, but the MoH is only recommending vaccination for "risk
groups" including pregnant women and persons with chronic diseases
(heart, lung, immune system, cancer) up to the age of 49. The
vaccine will be administered in around 150 "vaccination centers"
across the country, and patients will be required to pay about $15
for both shots.
HOH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CE, OES/IHB,
STATE FOR AID/GH/HIDN
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC KFLO PREL AU
SUBJECT: Austria Halfhearted on H1N1 Vaccination
REF: (A) VIENNA 1230; (B) VIENNA 1361; (C) VIENNA 989; (D) VIENNA
891; (E) VIENNA 733; (F) VIENNA 519
1. Austria begins vaccinating its healthcare personnel (around
280,000 persons) this week on a voluntary basis. Vaccine developer
Baxter has delivered 500,000 doses of "Celvapan" to the HEALTH
authorities for a 2-shot immunization. According to a HEALTH
Ministry (MOH) survey, 30-35% of registered doctors and only 10% of
hospital personnel are expected to get vaccine. Last year, around
22% of HEALTH personnel were vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
2. Austrians' generally lackadaisical attitude toward H1N1 was
reflected last week in an informal press poll of politicians and
celebrities as to whether they plan to get vaccinated. Almost all
of them, including the Chancellor and the HEALTH Minister (!) said
"no", claiming that they led a healthy life and had "no fear of
infection." Among prominent physicians less than 50% answered that
they would get the shots. As a consequence, the H1N1 vaccination
"turnout" is expected to be very low; in ONE poll taken October 22,
18 percent of respondents said they would take the vaccine.
3. Austrians have, as yet, seen few press reports of serious H1N1
cases within Austria. By the end of last week, Austria's HEALTH
authorities had registered only 421 cumulative H1N1 cases in Austria
-- although on October 27, a school in the state of Tyrol registered
26 new cases. The Ministry of HEALTH is now warning that the number
of undetected cases could be much higher. The same day, the press
reported on the first life-threatening case -- that of an 11-years
old ethnic Austrian girl from Bozen, Italy who has been hospitalized
in Innsbruck. She has been put on artificial respiration.
According to hospital doctors, a combination of a "staphylococcus
superinfection" of her lungs and the H1N1 virus caused serious
damage because of the reaction of her immune system.
4. On November 9, the vaccine will be made available to the general
public. By the end of November, 1.6 million doses for a total of
800,000 vaccinations will be available. Everybody is eligible to
get the shot, but the MoH is only recommending vaccination for "risk
groups" including pregnant women and persons with chronic diseases
(heart, lung, immune system, cancer) up to the age of 49. The
vaccine will be administered in around 150 "vaccination centers"
across the country, and patients will be required to pay about $15
for both shots.
HOH