Vaccine Access In Austria: Are Foreigners Eligible?

Foreigners can get vaccinated in Austria under certain circumstances. Foreigners who are resident in Austria will have an e-card, which is the most important document for most medical procedures in the country. The e-card is an electronic chip card linked to the country's social insurance system. This means that foreigners who live abroad and who do not have Austrian citizenship are unable to access the vaccine in Austria. However, the vaccination rate among foreigners in Austria stands at 51.5%, according to the Austrian Statistical Institute.

Foreigners can get vaccinated in Austria under certain circumstances

Foreigners, including cross-border workers, can get vaccinated in Austria under certain circumstances. The most important document to have is the Austrian e-card, which is linked to the country's social insurance system. This means that foreigners who live abroad and do not have Austrian citizenship cannot access the vaccine in Austria.

The Austrian e-card

The Austrian e-card is an electronic chip card linked to the electronic administration system of Austria's social insurance system, which includes health, accident, pension, and unemployment insurance. Anyone wanting to get vaccinated in Austria will need to present their e-card. Foreigners who are residents in Austria will have an e-card, as will most cross-border workers.

Other necessary documents

In addition to the e-card, individuals will need to bring their vaccination certificate and allergy passport if they have these documents. However, not having these documents will not prevent someone from getting vaccinated.

For those without an e-card

According to official government information, an e-card must be presented to get vaccinated. However, foreign students and temporary workers who do not have an e-card will not be prevented from getting the vaccine, provided they have an Austrian social security/insurance number. The Vienna Bar Association (RAK) confirmed this in a specific briefing in January 2021:

> "Persons who have a national insurance number are registered in the Central Patient Index (Zentralen Patientenindex/ZPI) - even without a current e-card. This also applies to persons who were once insured or co-insured in Austria. Therefore, they can be administered in the e-vaccination passport. Persons who do not appear in the ZPI receive an error message during identification. They can then only be documented on paper."

Austria's vaccination strategy and foreigners

Experts have criticised Austria's vaccination strategy for neglecting the country's sizeable foreign population. For example, by not providing information in languages other than German and failing to tackle conspiracy theories and incorrect information on social media, the campaign has been described as a "white, classically Austrian vaccination campaign".

Foreigners need an Austrian e-card to get vaccinated in Austria

Foreigners can get vaccinated in Austria under certain circumstances. The most important document required for vaccination in Austria is the Austrian e-card. This is an electronic chip card linked to the electronic administration system of Austria's social insurance system, which includes health, accident, pension, and unemployment insurance. Therefore, foreigners need an Austrian e-card to get vaccinated in Austria.

Anyone who wants to get vaccinated in Austria will need to present their e-card. Foreigners who are resident in Austria will typically have an e-card. However, some people, such as foreign students and temporary workers, may not have an e-card. In such cases, according to the Vienna Bar Association (RAK), they will not be prevented from getting the vaccine, provided they have an Austrian social security/insurance number.

The Austrian government's vaccination strategy has been criticized for failing to provide information in languages other than German and for not featuring individuals of a migrant background in their campaigns. This has contributed to a lower vaccination rate among foreigners in Austria, which stands at 51.5% compared to 69.5% for Austrians.

Turks in Austria have the highest vaccination rate among foreigners

In Austria, foreigners can get vaccinated against coronavirus under certain circumstances. The most important document required to get vaccinated in Austria is the e-card, which is linked to the country's social insurance system. Foreigners who are residents in Austria will typically have an e-card.

According to a study by the Austrian Statistical Institute, Turks in Austria have the highest vaccination rate among foreigners. The study, which examined vaccination rates among people of different ethnicities, education levels, employment statuses, and social classes, found that 73.2% of Turks in Austria had received their COVID-19 shots, higher than the national average of 69.5%. The study also revealed that vaccination rates were higher among the educated and employed than among the unemployed and less educated. For instance, the vaccination rate among those aged 25-64 with a high school diploma stood at 84%, while it dropped to 68% for primary school graduates. Similarly, 76% of employed individuals had been vaccinated, compared to 69% of the unemployed.

The high vaccination rate among Turks in Austria is notable, and the study's findings suggest that various factors, including education and employment, can influence vaccination uptake within different communities.

Austria's vaccination strategy is failing the country's foreign population

Austria's vaccination strategy has been criticised for failing to cater to the country's foreign population. While foreigners can get vaccinated in Austria under certain circumstances, there are a number of issues with the country's approach.

Firstly, the Österreich impft (Austria vaccinates) campaign has been described as a "white, classically Austrian vaccination campaign" by Judith Kohlenberger from the Institute for Social Policy at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. Kohlenberger points out that the campaign features no one of a migrant background, despite the fact that the majority of nurses in Austrian hospitals have a migration background. She suggests that including testimonials from these nurses would be a good way to encourage foreigners to get vaccinated.

Mariam Elhigazi, a psychologist and health guide at Volkshilfe Vienna, echoed this sentiment, stating that the government's vaccination campaign was targeted at "rich, old people" rather than foreigners. Elhigazi also highlighted the lack of information about vaccination in languages other than German, making it difficult for foreigners to access important information.

The Red Cross's vaccination campaign initially did not have information available in any language other than German. While a spokesman for the Red Cross stated that the campaign had since been translated into 14 languages, including Arabic, Turkish, and Hungarian, the website still only provides information in German.

Furthermore, foreigners who live abroad and do not have Austrian citizenship are unable to access the vaccine in Austria, even if they cross the border to work in the country. This is because an Austrian e-card, which is linked to the country's social insurance system, is required to get vaccinated in Austria. While foreigners who are resident in Austria and most cross-border workers will have an e-card, those without health insurance in Austria will need to access the vaccine in their country of residence.

The issues with Austria's vaccination strategy for foreigners are reflected in the vaccination rate among this group. According to a study by the Austrian Statistical Institute, the vaccination rate among foreigners living in the country was 51.5%, compared to 69.5% for Austrians. Turks in Austria had the highest vaccination rate among foreigners at 73.2%, followed by Czechs, Germans, and Afghans.

Foreigners need a negative PCR test to enter Austria

Foreigners who are residents in Austria can get vaccinated under certain circumstances. The most important document required to get vaccinated in Austria is the Austrian e-card, which is linked to the country's social insurance system. This means that foreigners who live abroad and do not have Austrian citizenship cannot access the vaccine in Austria.

Now, if you are a foreigner entering Austria, you will need to present a negative PCR test result for coronavirus, according to an announcement made by the Austrian Minister of Health, Wolfgang Mückstein. This rule has been in effect since February 22, 2022. When entering Austria, you must provide proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test result. However, an exception is made for countries where coronavirus variants are spread.

In addition to the PCR test requirement, individuals coming from high-risk areas, including Serbia, the USA, Turkey, Ukraine, and Sweden, among others, must show a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. Otherwise, they will need to undergo self-isolation or pay a fine of 1,450 euros if they don't take the test.

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