Company News
UPDATED: How can I get vaccinated for Covid-19 in Austria?
Are you a member of a risk group in Austria? Are you not? Here’s how you ensure access to the coronavirus vaccine.
Under Austria’s three-phase vaccination scheme, people in risk groups for coronavirus are set to be given priority in vaccinations.
But what exactly is a ‘risk group’ - and how do people in these groups ensure they get access to the vaccine?
Here’s what you need to know.
Austria’s three-phase vaccination scheme prioritises ‘risk patients’
Austrian health authorities revealed the details of the three-stage plan at a press conference in late November.
At the end of December, federal authorities gave an overview of how the plan is likely to work - and who will be vaccinated first.
The first vaccinations were administered in Austria on December 27th, with an 84-year-old woman in Vienna being the first to get vaccinated.
The mass vaccinations will then come in three waves from January.
Who gets vaccinated first?
Phase one, which is set to kick off in January of 2021, will target people over the age of 65, “especially those in retirement and old age homes”.
Phase one will also see staff in nursing homes vaccinated.
With one million doses of the vaccine likely to be available, this phase will see 500,000 people vaccinated - as each person needs to receive the vaccine twice.
Each dose will need to be given at least 21 days apart.
Phase two, expected to start in February 2021, will see health workers and people in other vulnerable categories vaccinated.
Other people in so-called “systemically relevant” professions will also be vaccinated as part of this phase.
Der Standard reports this includes police officers, employees in the food industry, transport companies and others, as well as teachers and employees of kindergartens and schools.
Starting in April, phase three will see the vaccine available to the general public.
This will include those who are already sick with Covid-19.
Information as to how to take part as a member of the general public - i.e. someone who is not in a risk group - will be provided by the government at a later date.
Some states however have already started their vaccination drives, with Vienna opening its registration system to the general public.
Who is considered at risk of coronavirus?
Prior to the rollout of the vaccine, Austria passed the ‘Risk Group Ordinance’ which laid out who was deemed to be at a high-risk from coronavirus and could thereby be given priority access to the vaccine.
Those in the risk group are defined as people over 65, along with people with advanced chronic lung diseases, chronic heart diseases resulting in organ damage and certain cancer patients.
I am in a high-risk group. How do I make sure I get vaccinated?
According to the Austrian government “all medical high-risk groups will immediately be invited to get a vaccination by their regular doctors or outpatient clinics”.
Put simply, the first step you should take is to speak with your doctor and discuss your medical condition.
According to official government advice issued on 1st January 2021, people should be registered with the social security system as being members of a risk group.
Those who have not registered their condition with the social security system should begin the process of doing so.
However, the government confirmed that individuals with confirmation of risk status from a private doctor will also classify as ‘high risk’ and qualify for priority vaccination.
I am not high risk. How can I get vaccinated?
As at January 2021, vaccinations have not started for patients who are not in a high-risk category.
Vienna, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg have opened up registration to the general public, with the first vaccinations expected to take place in the Spring.
As at 19th January, around 500,000 people have registered.
Why were nursing homes prioritised?
Austria’s prioritization of nursing home residents has meant that some people - including those with serious conditions placing them at a high risk - will need to wait longer to receive a vaccine.
The Austrian government acknowledged this, saying that “at the beginning of January there were not enough vaccines available to vaccinate all people at the same time, (therefore) all residents in old people's and nursing homes and their employees are vaccinated first.”
“This is where the risk of getting seriously ill from a COVID infection and possibly even dying is greatest. This decision is based on medical and technical considerations.”
Austrian quota immigration requirements:
1. Non-criminal record;
2. College degree or above or German A1 level;
3. 45,000 euros of bank deposit;
4. Bank statement for six months;
Why choose us: WZ&P is the expert in residence and citizenship planning. There are hundreds of clients and advisors rely on our expertise and experience. Our highly qualified professionals work together as one team worldwide.
We have 18 offices worldwide. For related links, please click:
Global Office
Want to know more？Please contact us for more details
E-mail: daisy.p@wz-p.com
Related Articles: Austria Residence Permit