Vaccine Damage Act: Claimants gain right to bring a trusted person to medical examinations
Austria's Vaccine Damage Act (Impfschadengesetz) has been updated to give claimants the right to have a trusted person present during medical examinations, and to clarify that the Federal Social Office (Bundesamt für Soziales und Behindertenwesen) is the sole authority deciding compensation claims. The changes are part of the consolidation under BGBl. I Nr. 45/2026.
What changed
A new provision (§ 3 para. 3a) entitles anyone claiming vaccine damage compensation to bring a trusted person (Vertrauensperson) to medical examinations conducted as part of the claim process. The person or their legal representative must explicitly request this, and any costs incurred by the trusted person are not reimbursed. The authority must inform applicants of this right in good time. Additionally, the text now makes clear that only the Federal Social Office decides on claims; the former second-instance Federal Appeals Commission (Bundesberufungskommission) is no longer referenced in § 3(2).
Who is affected
Anyone who has filed or intends to file a claim for compensation under the Vaccine Damage Act — including those applying on behalf of children or legally incompetent persons — is affected by these procedural changes.
What to look out for
The right to a trusted person at a medical examination is not automatic — you must actively request it. You should receive advance notice of this option from the authority. Costs for the trusted person's attendance are entirely at the claimant's own expense.