Vienna sick leave tops 71,000 as flu vaccine rollout lags

More than 71,000 people in Vienna are currently on sick leave as flu-like infections rise and influenza vaccines have yet to reach doctors’ practices, ORF reports.

The health insurance fund has recorded more than 19,000 flu-like infections in Vienna and 377 cases of influenza. The main flu wave is expected in mid-November.

A free influenza vaccination campaign is due to start in early November, but vaccines are not yet available at doctors’ practices. After weeks of delivery problems, 800,000 doses arrived in Austria on Friday.

Peter Haubenberger, a general practitioner at PVE Wien West, said doses were available for children and people aged 60 and over, but not for those aged 18 to 60.

The health state secretariat and the medical chamber said the vaccines were already being distributed, with some delays due to the autumn holidays. They expect all deliveries to be completed by 6 November.