AUSTRIA, January 9 - Making vaccine development and production more attractive and robust

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) was founded in 1997 on the initiative of the United Nations. The objective of this institution is to ensure the development and provision of safe, effective and affordable vaccines in all regions of the world. The coronavirus pandemic has once again showed how important protective immunisations are in the fight against certain illnesses, along with the importance of international collaboration in their research and manufacture. The institute, headquartered in Seoul, has branches worldwide. The regional office for Europe is in Stockholm. In addition to the regional office in Stockholm, the IVI has now also opened a branch in Vienna, so the Council of Ministers will vote on a corresponding membership this week.

Vaccines are becoming an increasingly high priority in our everyday lives. They are the reason that many illnesses have now been driven back and no longer pose a danger to people’s health or even their lives. Thanks to international research and collaboration, more and more vaccines have been developed that will prevent a great deal of suffering in the future. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Health Minister Johannes Rauch and Science Minister Martin Polaschek therefore agree that Austria should further intensify its efforts in this important area. The International Vaccine Institute branch in Austria marks an especially important step. Attracting this important research institute to a location in Austria means that the health of the entire population can be better safeguarded from infectious diseases in the future.

Previously, epidemics like measles and polio were the ones driven back by vaccines; today it is diseases like coronavirus and HPV that our highly effective, safe vaccines are helping us manage. Thanks to international research and collaboration, there will be many more vaccines available in the future, enabling us to effectively fight new infectious diseases,

says Rauch with conviction.

Austria is continuing to grow its reputation as a meeting place and a location for international dialogue, now even more in the field of vaccine research. Vienna’s position will be strengthened by the new IVI branch, and the contribution of international organisations to value creation in Austria will be increased,

said Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

Vaccines are the product of international research, and they are an important priority in our everyday lives in order to prevent illness and suffering. Austria is taking responsibility and making a huge contribution as a research location. With the IVI office in Vienna, we are taking a further step towards international collaboration on vaccine research, and providing sustainable support for worldwide vaccine development and production,

emphasises Science Minister Polaschek.

By way of a joint resolution in the Council of Ministers this week, Austria’s application for membership will be submitted to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), thus laying further groundwork to establish the branch permanently. Austria is planning an annual investment of 860,000 euros in this area. The goal is to make an important contribution to Austria’s foreign, security, European and economic policy interests in terms of our vaccine development in Europe and the world, and to further strengthen Austria’s position as an internationally competitive location for higher education and research.