With a view to the spread of the Delta variant in Great Britain, Karl Lauterbach calls on Stiko to reconsider the vaccination recommendation for children. The SPD health expert considers the infection of children with the Delta variant to be too risky.
The SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach has asked the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) to reconsider its restricted recommendation for the corona vaccination of children. “In Great Britain there are already many children with Covid in the clinic. The Standing Vaccination Commission argues that Covid is harmless for children. In my opinion, this does not apply to the Delta variant,” said Lauterbach of the “Rheinische Post” (Monday).
The Stiko has not yet issued a general vaccination recommendation for children and adolescents from 12 years of age. She recommends vaccinations only for 12 to 17 year olds with certain pre-existing conditions such as obesity, diabetes and chronic lung diseases. According to an evaluation by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance, this affects around eleven percent of children in this age group. On request and after medical advice, vaccinations are possible for everyone from the age of twelve. The committee justified its recommendation almost three weeks ago, among other things, by stating that the risk of severe Covid 19 disease was low for this age group.
“Infection of children with Delta variant is too risky”
“The information provided by Stiko always refers to old versions,” criticized Lauterbach. “Infecting children with the Delta variant is too risky. And changing lessons is not a solution.” At the same time, he suggested that more should be done to attract vaccine skeptics. “In Israel, the incidence is rising again despite the high vaccination rate and great weather. It is clear that real normality will only come about with a very high vaccination rate.” He assumes that a vaccination rate of more than 80 percent is necessary.
