There is no progress with the booster vaccination. Politicians and health experts are calling for a faster boost – and a revitalization of the vaccination centers. The countries are overwhelmed
In the midst of the increasingly critical Corona situation, there is a dispute about ways to get more booster vaccinations as protection for the winter. Several states reacted with reserve to attempts by the acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) to quickly restart regional vaccination centers and coordinate the procedure at a federal-state summit. There is still criticism of the slow vaccination rate in the network of medical practices. In the meantime, the mark of two million such vaccination boosters (“boosters”) for vaccinations that was carried out a long time ago has been exceeded in Germany.
Spahn told the “Rheinische Post” (Monday): “In order to enable as many as possible a booster vaccination as quickly as possible, the federal states should make the vaccination centers, which they have been on standby since the end of September, ready to start again.” He again advised the federal states to invite all over-60s in writing as a first step. Boosts are possible at least six months after a full vaccination. This is offered to elderly, corona risk groups and vaccinated people with Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson, among others. But it is also possible for everyone else.
Booster vaccinations overwhelm countries
The federal and state governments had agreed to close the more than 400 vaccination centers that were set up at the start of the vaccination period by September 30th or to reduce capacities. However, the federal government continues to assume part of the financing. The federal states are responsible for operation. According to a spokesman, the Federal Ministry had no data on the current number of vaccination centers on Monday.
Several countries refused to reactivate it. The proposal comes as a surprise, since the vaccination centers were only closed a few weeks ago, according to the Baden-Württemberg health department. Another 50 mobile vaccination teams should be deployed this week to move forward. “We would need a much longer lead time for the reopening of vaccination centers.” For the time being, Saxony is not considering reopening the once 13 centers. In addition to general practitioners and company doctors and around 20 clinics, 30 mobile vaccination teams are currently in use. “Our vaccination offers are currently not fully utilized,” said Minister of Social Affairs Petra Köpping (SPD) of the DPA.
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Health Daniela Behrens (SPD) called Spahn’s approach irritating. The country has created a new structure with mobile vaccination teams. It is primarily about refreshments in old people’s and nursing homes, vaccination offers at schools and vocational schools as well as low-threshold, decentralized campaigns. “The main burden of the vaccination campaign lies with the practices after the closure of the large vaccination centers,” said Behrens. Here you can expect significant growth.
Once again disagreement on how to fight the pandemic
The green expert Janosch Dahmen was dissatisfied with the vaccinations in doctors’ offices. “After the closure of most vaccination centers, the practices clearly fail to meet the expectations placed on them, neither for the initial nor for the booster vaccinations,” he told the editorial network in Germany (Monday). “If the vaccination rate in the standard care of the practices is not sufficient, we will finally have to vaccinate in other places, for example pharmacies.”
Several countries also reacted cautiously to repeated offers by the still incumbent federal government for a coordination meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Hamburg’s Senator for Health Melanie Leonhard (SPD) considers a new federal-state summit to be superfluous. There has only just been a conference of prime ministers. Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) was also skeptical on Sunday evening on ZDF. “If we don’t want to meet there to chat, then I ask what do we want to arrange and what is the Federal Minister of Health offering us?”
Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) would welcome a corona vote by the federal and state governments. “In view of the very worrying Corona situation, that would be urgently needed,” said a government spokesman. This could take place at a federal-state summit or in a conference of prime ministers. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s head of government Manuela Schwesig (SPD) said on Sunday evening in the ARD that if it appeared necessary for the federal government and the states to meet, that should also be done.
The board of directors of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, complained: “The back and forth in the pandemic has never been greater than it is at the moment.” There is no corona radar, so the federal and state governments controlled the pandemic measures by flying blind. “It is no coincidence that Germany is slipping into the next wave with contradicting proposals,” said Brysch of the German press agency.
Source From: Stern
