Hamburg is pushing ahead with vaccinations for young people. From now on, 16- and 17-year-olds can also be vaccinated in the Hanseatic city – there is only one catch.
In Hamburg, 16- and 17-year-olds are now surprisingly to receive an offer for an appointment at the coronavirus vaccination center. That should apply immediately, said Social Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) the “”. “It is important to us that the parents give their consent.” Therefore, a legal guardian should come along for the vaccination.
However, some of the 30,000 or so young people in Hamburg between the ages of 16 and 17 may already have been vaccinated – for example trainees in nursing, in daycare, in retail or in utility companies. Leonhard pointed out that this age group is made up of young adults, “who, unlike the average twelve-year-old, have a lot more contacts and in some cases also travel independently”. They are also further developed with a view to the immune system as well as the liver and kidney functions for the breakdown of drugs.
Hamburg is pushing ahead with young people
With this step, the Hanseatic city goes beyond the vote of the Standing Vaccination Commission, which does not issue a general vaccination recommendation for those under 18 years of age. Unlike Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), however, the Senator did not call for children from the age of twelve to be vaccinated.
“If you want to protect your children, the first way is to get yourself vaccinated. We currently have a vaccination rate of 58 percent among 18 to 60-year-olds in Hamburg. There is still room for improvement,” said Leonhard. It is important to weigh up the vaccination risk individually in view of possible reactions. “I advise parents to talk to their child about a possible vaccination. The most important thing is good advice from the pediatrician or family doctor.”
