Vaccinations Also Possible in Pharmacies from 2027

From 2027, vaccinations in Austria are to be offered not only at the family doctor but in pharmacies as well. The federal government has announced a plan to this effect, intended to make access to vaccination easier and to strengthen willingness to be vaccinated across the population. At the same time it is meant to relieve pressure on the health system.

The Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists supports this step and stresses that many pharmacists already hold a qualified vaccination training. International experience, it says, shows that pharmacy vaccinations improve reach and can contribute to higher vaccination rates.

The Chamber of Physicians raises concerns about patient safety and calls for clear rules, arguing that vaccinating requires more than the injection itself. The concrete arrangements – which vaccines are offered, how procedures are documented and which standards apply – are to be settled in law over the coming months.

Sources

1. Die Presse – Vaccinations to be possible in pharmacies from 2027
2. Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists – statement on vaccinating in pharmacies
3. OTS press release – physicians' representatives raise concerns