Measille wave in Upper Austria: child benefit for vaccination refusers in danger!

Measille wave in Upper Austria: child benefit for vaccination refusers in danger!

Linz, Österreich - Upper Austria is faced with a worrying increase in measles cases. Seven measles infections have already been registered in 2023, and the number rose to alarming 96 cases in 2024. There are currently 38 diseases reported in the current year 2025, which supplements a total of 93 illnesses this year. This worrying phenomenon has caused the health authorities to examine measures to increase the vaccination rate and stop the spread of the disease.

The State Councilor Christine Haberlander (ÖVP) appeals to all parents to have their children vaccinated. It emphasizes that there are free vaccination offers and emphasizes the importance of the vaccination. Measles are highly contagious and can have serious health consequences; A infected person can infect up to twelve other people.

refusal to vaccination and possible sanctions

The falling willingness to vaccination is considered the main cause of the return of the measles. A worrying trend is the acceptance of the applications for the parent-child subsidy for compliance with all vaccinations that dropped from 10,000 in 2020 to 7,600 in 2024. In order to counteract this trend, Haberlander is thinking about sanctions, which could particularly affect the withdrawal of child benefit for parents who do not let their children vaccinate against measles.

The high number of measles cases in the country is also associated with low vaccination rates in the years 2019 to 2022. Virologist Lukas Weseslindtner blames the parents' conscious decision against vaccinations as the main cause of the enlarged vaccination.

The vaccination offer in Austria

In Austria, measles vaccination is available as a combination vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) and is offered free of charge and without age at public vaccination centers. The recommendation is to vaccinate children from the accomplished 9th month of life with two doses of the measles-mumps-red vaccine (MMR). It is important that the lack of vaccinations at any age are made up for to ensure protection against measles.

The WHO pursues the goal of eradicizing measles worldwide, which requires a necessary vaccination rate of 95 %. However, this target brand is currently not reached in Austria. Studies from the Technical University of Vienna show that children have to be vaccinated earlier and more consistently to prevent the return of measles. Measures to close the vaccination of young adults are also essential.

It is essential that parents take the health risks seriously and let their children vaccinate. The protection of the entire population can only be guaranteed by a higher vaccination rate and the disease is finally pushed back.

For further information on the topic of measles and vaccination in Austria, please visit the pages of [Vol.at] (https://www.vol.at/masern-oberoesterreich-prueft-kinder-stopp-bei-bepf refusal/9403598), Ö24 and [Federal Ministry of Social] (https://www.social ministerium.gv.at/themen/Gesundheit/impfen/Masern—elimination-und-- di-vaccination rats/ dihmpfungsraten-national-aktionplan.html).