Launch of a routine vaccination programme against COVID-19 this autumn

The Health Council recommends launching a routine vaccination programme against COVID-19 this autumn under which, as of now, at-risk groups would be offered an annual vaccination. The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to cause hospitalisations and deaths among at-risk groups. Since it is still unclear how COVID-19 will continue to evolve, the Council recommends that the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport should annually examine whether the vaccination programme needs to be adjusted, while taking into account a variety of scenarios ranging from very mild to very severe.