Calls for COVID-19 vaccination uptake are rising as Europe sees a surge in infections and deaths.
The rise in cases and deaths comes ahead of the continent's winter.
Dr Margaret Harris, from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the vaccine is "a privilege" and has urged everyone to take it.
READ MORE: Austria to enter lockdown, bring in mandatory vaccinations
"Really I say that to everybody, the vaccine is there to keep you out of hospital. Keep you from dying. It's a privilege. Take it," she said.
Professor Eva Shernhammer, an epidemiologist at the University of Medicine in Vienna, said cases numbers rose so quickly in Europe and particularly Austria that harsher restrictions were the only option.
"It was necessary to take even stricter measures starting coming Monday. We really have a lot of patients in the intensive care units at this point."
As infections surge, Austria has introduced a vaccine mandate for its entire adult population.
Only 64.8 per cent of the Austrian population is fully vaccinated.
Dr Harris said the WHO prefers "people actually understand why it's critical to get vaccinated now" as opposed to vaccine mandates.
"The problem is that they often get misinformation. We've had huge rise in misinformation that's made some people sadly, not get vaccinated."
READ MORE: Sydney petrol prices reach record-high and expected to continue climbing
The surge in cases can be reduced with appropriate COVID-safe measures, Dr Harris added.
"The important thing is it can still be stopped with the measures like the visible distancing, increasing mask-wearing, improving ventilation. Really going back to those measures."
"Also upping the vaccination," she said.
Another vaccine is now seeking approval to be added to the current portfolio.
The Novavax vaccine is trying to get approved to be rolled out across Europe and authorities hope this will help curb the surge.
"Novavax is a good vaccine. It does not have to be stored at low cold temperatures. It has a lot of good things," Dr Harris said.
"Once it's licenced, that's great if we have another tool in the armoury."
READ MORE: Sydney set for serious Sunday soaking with heavy rain forecast
Dr Harris said there are many countries that do not have the vaccine supply to immunise their population and adding Novavax to the vaccines available will help to change that.
"Many countries are screaming for vaccines. We have many countries that are still only able to vaccinate one or two per cent of people."
"We are actually vaccinating here in Afghanistan. But we need more vaccines here," Dr Harris said.
While about 60 per cent of people in Western Europe are fully immunised against COVID-19, only about half as many are vaccinated in the eastern part of the continent.
Australia is fast approaching having 85 per cent of the nation fully vaccinated.
Dr Shernhammer said Australia has been successful in its vaccination uptake due to a unifying voice in the political parties.
"I think one really critical point is what Australia may be doing better than some European countries is the government has to have the same voice regarding vaccination."
