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SALZBURG

Will Austria really be able to vaccinate everyone who wants it by the end of June?

Earlier in 2021, Austria promised everyone who wanted a vaccine could get one by the start of July. With the deadline looming, will the goal be met?

A woman recieves a vaccine. Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
More people want to be vaccinated as the campaign progresses, federal states in Austria report. Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP))

At the beginning of April, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) assured that all Austrians willing to vaccinate could receive their first vaccination by the end of June. 

According to research from the Austrian Press Agency (APA), the only states in Austria where this promise will definitely be kept will be in Lower Austria and Salzburg. 

READ MORE: Can Austria stick to its every adult vaccinated in 100 days target?

Although more than five million vaccine doses have now been given in Austria, more than half of the population eligible to be vaccinated has not had a first jab. 

Kurz said in April he assumed only two thirds of Austrians aged over 16 (7.5 million people), would register to receive a vaccine, leaving him with the target of vaccinating five million people before the end of July. 

Currently around 3.6 million people have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. 

 

Die Impfung ist unser Ausweg aus der Pandemie & mit ihr kommen wir der Normalität Schritt für Schritt näher!

Posted by Sebastian Kurz on Thursday, April 8, 2021

Vaccine hesitancy has been decreasing in Austria according to APA research with federal states, meaning demand is still high as the rollout continues. 

Many second vaccination doses are due

In addition, the pace of first vaccinations is unlikely to significantly increase, as many second vaccinations are now due, the broadcaster ORF reports.

Last week, the pace of first vaccinations slowed to 35,000 per week, rather than 40,000 to 50,000 per week as seen earlier in May.

However, the number of vaccine dose deliveries should increase in June. In May, 500,000 vaccine doses per week were delivered to Austria, in June it should be up to 700,000 per week.

Lower Austria 

In Lower Austria, State Health Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig told APA all people who have registered for the coronavirus vaccination will receive their first injection by the end of June. Since May 10th all age groups from 16 upwards have been able to register for a vaccine. 

Some children aged twelve could be vaccinated as early as June in Lower Austria, especially if they belong to a risk group, according to ORF

Salzburg

In Salzburg, all those who registered for a coronavirus vaccination by May 26th should have received the first jab by the end of June. Those who missed out on this deadline will be eligible from July, health officer LH-Deputy Christian Stoeckl told APA.

Since June 1st, all Salzburg residents aged twelve and over have been able to register for the vaccination, and vaccination of 12 to 20-year-olds is planned over the summer. 

Vienna

A spokesman for the Vienna City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) told APA that he could not promise everyone who wanted to be vaccinated in Vienna would be able to, as new entries were constantly made in the city’s reservation platform. 

Vienna, which has the lowest vaccination rate of any federal state, plans to have vaccinated up to 60 percent of the population by the end of June. By mid-July – depending on the availability of the vaccine – 70 percent is expected and up to  80 percent in August, including children aged 12 and up.

Priority groups will continue to be vaccinated for the time being with no release of appointments for all groups planned. 

Upper Austria 

In Upper Austria, vaccinations have been open to everyone since May 29th, and there are no longer any priorities. It is currently possible to book a vaccination appointment until the week of July 19th-25th.

Health Councillor Christine Haberlander (ÖVP) said if Upper Austria were given more vaccines the state could administer up to 180,000 vaccinations per week.

Vorarlberg 

In Vorarlberg the vaccination prioritisation based on age, risk or occupational group was lifted three weeks ago. Vorarlberg says it will send all those who have registered on the platform an invitation for a vaccination appointment by the end of June.

Styria 

In Styria all people who registered with the vaccine portal before May 25th will receive an appointment before July 7th.

Any leftover doses will be given to people who have registered with the vaccine service since May 25th onwards. Appointments can only be given out once vaccines are in stock in sufficient quantities, according to the federal state. 

Burgenland

Burgenland’s Coronavirus coordination team say it will “probably not” work out that all those willing to vaccinate have received the first vaccination by the end of June as they do not think they will receive enough vaccine doses in time.

However, the team assumes everyone who is currently registered can be vaccinated by mid-July. Appointments will be given out shortly before the vaccines become available. 

Carinthia 

In Carinthia, new people are registering regularly on the vaccine portal and willingness to vaccinate is increasing to around 60 percent of the population, according to spokesman Gerd Kurath. 

He added that the waiting list is stuck at around 50,000 people due to these factors, with more wanting to be vaccinated than vaccines available.

Appointments will be planned from week to week according to age categories. In addition, many second vaccinations are now due so “unfortunately”  first vaccinations may have to wait, he said.

Tyrol 

Tyrol was unable to tell the APA  when all those willing to be vaccinated would receive their first dose. Plans in this federal state are made “from week to week”. Since Friday, May 28th, vaccination appointments will start for people in all age categories from 16 to 50-years-old. However, older people will still be prioritised. 

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VIENNA

‘Jahreskarte’: The best seasonal tickets to have if you live in Vienna

If you live in Vienna, you can enjoy unlimited access to many establishments - or services - with a yearly pass. Here we list the city's best passes.

'Jahreskarte': The best seasonal tickets to have if you live in Vienna

If you live in Vienna, getting annual passes (Jahreskarten) for certain activities and establishments is a good way to save money.

Instead of paying for single entries, you pay for a whole year and can enjoy unlimited access to popular establishments in the city.

Here, we list Vienna’s five best yearly passes – plus a nationwide one.

Public transport pass

Vienna is known for having one of the world’s best, most effective, and affordable public transport systems.

A yearly pass for using all available public transportation in the city costs only €365, which is €1 per day on average.

Trains, trams, and buses in Vienna generally run frequently, with intervals of 5 to 15 minutes during peak times and up to 30 minutes or more during off-peak hours. They are known for their punctuality, reliability, and accessibility for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Buying a yearly pass is beneficial if you plan to travel regularly in Vienna. A monthly pass costs €51, and a day ticket costs €2.50.

Vienna’s public pools (a half-year card)

If you enjoy swimming regularly, whether indoors or outdoors, getting a six-month card for the city’s public pools is a good idea.

A six-month card costs €159 and allows you to access all of the city’s public indoor and outdoor pools whenever you want and for as long as you like – within opening hours, of course. This is a great offer since a daily ticket to a public pool costs €7.60.

Vienna offers over 50 different public swimming pools, including outdoor and indoor pools, as well as saunas and wellness areas at many locations.

All pools offer opportunities for competitive swimming, training in a calm environment, and playground areas for children

You can find out more here

 
 
 
 
 
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READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: the best outdoor pools in Vienna

Federal Museum pass

Vienna has many interesting and beautiful museums, though they are expensive. The federal government has, therefore, recently decided to make culture more accessible by offering a new yearly ticket for the main capital museums.

The card costs €99 a year. The standard ticket price for most federal museums is €20 for entering only once.

The annual museum pass is valid from July 1st and you can buy it online or in the participating museums. 

With the card, you will be able to visit all the federal museums in Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Naturhistorisches Museum, Albertina, Belvedere, Museum Moderner Kunst (Mumok), Technisches Museum, Museum für angewandte Kunst (Mak), and the Austrian National Library. The card is valid for regular and special exhibitions whenever the museums are open.

Additionally, the idea is to encourage spontaneous short visits. With a card, you can enjoy a ‘fast lane’ without queuing at the counter, and no prior bookings will be necessary.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: How will Austria’s new ‘federal museum card’ work?

Tiergarten Schönbrunn 

Tiergarten Schönbrunn, also known as Vienna Zoo, is the oldest operating zoo in the world. It was founded in 1752 and is still one of the city’s most popular attractions today.

The zoo houses over 700 species of animals, from pandas, elephants, and tigers to native Austrian wildlife. It is also known for participating in international breeding programs for endangered species, thereby contributing to global conservation efforts.

The zoo offers something for everyone and is especially known for being family-friendly, with playgrounds, educational programs, and interactive exhibitions for children.

A yearly ticket to the zoo costs €65 for adults and €35 for children and young adults (from 6 to 15 years old). A daily standard ticket costs €27.

Find out more here

A sleeping crocodile at Schönbrunn Tiergarten. Photo by Christian Lendl on Unsplash

Haus des Meeres 

Haus des Meeres, also known as the House of the Sea, is Vienna’s most famous aquarium.

It is also one of the city’s most popular attractions and is the place to go if you are interested in marine species, such as sharks, rays, and tropical fish.

The main attractions include many different large aquariums and an impressive shark tank.

You can also see crocodiles and alligators or walk around the tropical house, which is a rainforest environment with free-flying birds, monkeys, and other exotic animals.

The aquarium also offers interactive exhibitions, regular feeding shows, and presentations that provide educational insights into the behaviour and care of various species.

A yearly card is valid Monday to Friday and gives you a discount of 25 percent on the weekends. The card costs €43 for adults and €21 for children (3-15 years old). A standard daily ticket costs €21.90.

KlimaTicket

If you buy the Austrian KlimaTicket, you get access to all public transportation in Austria with just one ticket during one year. It is known for being a simple, environmental-friendly, and affordable way of traveling within the country. 

A standard KlimaTicket costs €1,095. For people under 25, over 65, and those with disabilities, the ticket costs €821. Currently, you receive a KlimaTicket for free if you are under 18.

If you travel frequently within Austria, buying a KlimaTicket might help you save money. A standard ticket from Vienna to Salzburg alone costs around €60.

Read more about it here.

READ NEXT: 8 exciting events taking place in Vienna in July 2024

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