Lyla Lindsey
As of 8 April 2021, Austria had almost 600,000 registered cases of COVID-19, with over 9,000 deaths. The country was one of the first to report COVID-19 cases and implemented two complete lockdowns. Austria has since committed to developing an adequate vaccination strategy to improve its vaccination uptake. The country has used the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, although the use of one batch was suspended after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died 10 days after vaccination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Vaccines Used | AstraZeneca |
| Number of Registered Cases as of 8 April 2021 | 568,916 |
| Number of Deaths as of 8 April 2021 | 9,586 |
| Number of People Fully Recovered as of 8 April 2021 | 525,682 |
| Number of People Hospitalized as of 8 April 2021 | 2,516 |
| Number of People in Intensive Care as of 8 April 2021 | 578 |
| Total Number of Vaccine Doses Administered as of 29 March 2021 | 1,569,200 |
| Vaccine Acceptance Rate | 55% |
| Vaccine Hesitancy Rate | 18% |
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What You'll Learn
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine batch ABV5300 suspended
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, also known as Vaxzevria, was one of the vaccines used in Austria. However, in March 2021, the use of batch ABV5300 was suspended by the Austrian national competent authority as a precautionary measure. This decision was made after two individuals experienced thromboembolic events, which are related to blood clots. One person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis (formation of blood clots within blood vessels) and died 10 days after receiving the vaccine. Another individual was hospitalised with pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the arteries of the lungs, but has since recovered. As of March 9, 2021, two additional reports of thromboembolic event cases had been received for this batch.
The suspension of batch ABV5300 was not an isolated incident, as several other EU countries also halted its use while investigations were ongoing. This particular batch consisted of 1 million doses and was distributed to 17 EU countries. Despite these concerning reports, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) safety committee, PRAC, asserted that there was no indication of any specific issues with the batch used in Austria. They emphasised that the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated individuals was comparable to the rate observed in the general population.
As of March 9, 2021, out of the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the European Economic Area, only 22 cases of thromboembolic events had been reported. PRAC continued its thorough assessment of any potential issues associated with the batch and its broader review of thromboembolic events and related conditions. They committed to providing further updates as their investigation progressed.
It is important to note that thromboembolic events and related conditions are not listed as side effects of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. While the suspension of batch ABV5300 was a precautionary measure, the safety and well-being of the vaccinated individuals remain a top priority for the Austrian authorities and the EMA. The ongoing investigations and reviews demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and transparency in the vaccine rollout.
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70% of 1350 surveyed believe vaccine is effective
As of April 2021, Austria had almost 570,000 registered cases of COVID-19, with nearly 10,000 deaths. In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, the country implemented two complete lockdowns: the first between March and April 2020, and the second from December 2020 to February 2021.
Austria has used the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, with the national competent authority reviewing cases of thromboembolic events in vaccinated individuals. As of March 2021, 22 cases of thromboembolic events were reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the European Economic Area. The EMA's safety committee, PRAC, is investigating these cases and reviewing all other cases of thromboembolic events and related conditions.
Despite the concerns surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine, Austria has committed to developing an adequate vaccination strategy to protect its population. An online survey of 1,350 Austrians found that 70% believed the COVID-19 vaccine was an effective way to prevent and control the virus, while 13% disagreed, and 17% were uncertain. Furthermore, 71% approved of the rapid development and rollout of the vaccine, and 55% were willing to get vaccinated as soon as it was available. However, 18% did not want to get vaccinated, 17% wanted to delay, and 10% had already been vaccinated at the time of the survey.
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Austria committed to improving vaccine uptake
As of 8 April 2021, Austria had reported a total of 568,916 COVID-19 cases, with 9,586 deaths. The country was one of the first to report COVID-19 cases and implemented two complete lockdowns, the first between 16 March and 25 April 2020, and the second from December 2020 to February 2021.
Austria has used the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, but the national competent authority suspended a batch of the vaccine (ABV5300) after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died ten days after vaccination. Another person was hospitalised with pulmonary embolism after receiving the vaccine. However, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) safety committee, PRAC, found no specific issue with the batch used in Austria. As of 9 March 2021, 22 cases of thromboembolic events had been reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the European Economic Area.
Austria has committed to improving its vaccine uptake, which stood at 20.96 doses per 100 people as of April 2021. This equates to a 20% vaccination participation rate, which lags behind other countries. To enhance vaccine uptake, Austria is working on developing an adequate vaccination strategy and course of action to protect its population. An online survey of 1,350 respondents found that 70% believed the COVID-19 vaccine was an effective way to prevent and control the virus, while 71% approved of the rapid development and rollout. However, 18% did not want to get vaccinated, 17% wanted to delay, and 55% were willing to accept the vaccine as soon as it was available.
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20% vaccination participation as of April 2021
As of April 2021, Austria had approved three vaccines for use against COVID-19: BionTech/Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. The AstraZeneca vaccine, in particular, was approved by European authorities on January 29, 2021, and it played a significant role in Austria's vaccination strategy. However, it faced controversy due to concerns about its effectiveness in older individuals and against new virus mutations.
Austria faced challenges in its vaccination campaign due to supply shortages, which resulted in delays at the beginning of the year. As of February 26, 2021, only 582,135 vaccine doses had been administered. The vaccination program aimed to achieve herd immunity, but this required sufficient participation rates. While global surveys in June 2020 indicated promising levels of potential COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, ranging from 55% to 89%, vaccine hesitancy remained an issue in Austria.
A non-probability online survey conducted between November 26 and December 3, 2020, among 1007 Austrian adults, revealed that 41.1% reported intermediate or severe vaccine hesitancy, 22.8% were undecided, and 36.1% reported no or little hesitancy. Notably, vaccine hesitancy was more prevalent among those aged 35–54, living in rural areas, and with lower education levels. The survey also found higher acceptance among supporters of the ruling political parties, with 55.4% expressing little or no hesitancy.
To address the pandemic, Austria implemented a series of lockdown measures, mass testing, and the FFP2 mask mandate. The vaccination campaign, launched in January 2021, was an important component of the country's strategy. However, the participation rates in the mass testing programs varied significantly between individual states, and the vaccination efforts were hampered by supply issues. As of February 2021, Austria had experienced approximately 8,400 COVID-19-related deaths, and the pandemic continued to surge with new mutations.
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EMA safety committee reviews thromboembolic events
The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) safety committee, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), has been investigating thromboembolic events in people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (now called Vaxzevria). Several EU countries, including Austria, temporarily paused their vaccination campaigns with AstraZeneca as a precaution while the EMA investigated reports of blood clots in people who had received the vaccine.
The EMA's investigation involved a rigorous analysis of all data related to thromboembolic events, including clinical circumstances surrounding specific cases, to determine whether the vaccine might have contributed or if the events were due to other causes. The EMA convened an ad hoc expert group meeting with independent external experts, including haematologists, neurologists, and epidemiologists, to discuss specific aspects such as possible mechanisms, underlying risk factors, and additional data needed to characterise the observed events and potential risks.
As of 9 March 2021, 22 cases of thromboembolic events had been reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the European Economic Area. By 10 March 2021, this number had increased to 30 cases among 5 million vaccinated people. However, the EMA emphasised that the overall number of thromboembolic events during clinical trials and after vaccine rollout was lower than expected in the general population, indicating no increase in overall risk. The EMA also noted that COVID-19 infection itself can cause clotting problems, which can sometimes be fatal.
The EMA's review of the AstraZeneca vaccine is ongoing, and the agency continues to monitor its safety. The EMA has stated that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19, with its associated risks of hospitalisation and death, continue to outweigh the risks of side effects. The EMA will provide further updates as its assessment progresses.
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Frequently asked questions
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was used in Austria. However, the use of a batch of this vaccine (batch number ABV5300) was suspended by the Austrian national competent authority after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died 10 days after vaccination. 70% of 1350 respondents in an online survey thought that the COVID-19 vaccine is an effective way to prevent and control the virus, while 13% disagreed and 17% were uncertain.
EMA's safety committee, PRAC, reviewed the cases reported with the batch and investigated all other cases of thromboembolic events and other conditions related to blood clots reported post-vaccination. As of 9 March 2021, 22 cases of thromboembolic events had been reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the European Economic Area.
As of April 2021, Austria had 568,916 registered cases of COVID-19 with 9586 deaths. The current vaccine uptake in Austria is 20.96 doses per 100 people, which equals a 20% vaccination participation rate.
