From Wednesday, a corona vaccination will apply to nursing and health staff in Germany. Critics warn, among other things, of supply bottlenecks.
Immediately before they start, the corona vaccination requirement for nursing and health staff in Germany is again the focus of criticism.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection warned that the pandemic in elderly and nursing care would not be controllable with this compulsory vaccination. The Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services (BPA) warned of supply bottlenecks. From Wednesday, the so-called facility-related vaccination requirement for health and nursing staff will apply, and the health authorities can then draw employment consequences in these facilities.
Also volunteers and interns
Employees in health and care facilities can officially prove their corona vaccination or recovery until this Tuesday – or present a certificate that they cannot be vaccinated. The obligation to vaccinate also applies to volunteers and interns, craftsmen and hairdressers who work regularly in institutions. On the other hand, postmen or parcel deliverers and craftsmen who only come for one-off orders are not included.
The chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, called for further steps to be taken to protect nursing homes. He pointed out that the current vaccines could hardly stop the spread of the current corona variant. “So it remains a dangerous game with life and limb as long as infected and non-infected residents have to share a room.” This is currently happening all the time. “It would rather be necessary to strictly separate infected and non-infected people from each other. That’s practically not possible in a nursing home,” said Brysch.
Local alternative quarters are necessary – such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities or hotels, said Brysch. A legal basis is needed for such a procedure, which is necessary in the short term. Instead, the obligation to vaccinate facilities threatens to exacerbate the shortage of staff in sensitive areas.
Understaffing warning
The President of the Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services, Bernd Meurer, told the editorial network Germany (RND) that his association was very concerned because there was a risk of supply shortages if there were nationwide entry bans for unvaccinated staff. “There will be nursing homes that will no longer be able to care for their residents.” After all, there is already a huge shortage of skilled workers.
In the debate about the future corona protection measures, the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) calls for improvements for the schools. The federal states should also be able to order a mask requirement in lessons beyond March 20 if necessary, said Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Education Karin Prien (CDU) to the newspapers of the Funke media group. According to the will of the federal states, all restrictions in schools should be lifted by May at the latest, in particular the obligation to wear masks and carry out tests without cause. At the moment, however, a nationwide regulation for basic protection is necessary, “which also makes it possible to have masks and tests as tools available if necessary”.
According to a draft by the traffic light government, after March 20, masks will only be compulsory in nursing homes, clinics and in local and long-distance public transport. If the corona situation worsens regionally, the federal states can also introduce stricter rules, such as far-reaching mask requirements, by parliamentary decision. On Wednesday, the Bundestag is to discuss a draft submitted by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) for the first time. This involves a new legal basis for restrictions when the current one expires.
Workable compromise through hotspot regulation
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) warns against refraining from the planned relaxation. “Citizens must be able to rely on the promises made by politicians,” said KBV boss Andreas Gassen of the “Rheinische Post”. In addition, the planned hotspot regulation could represent a viable compromise. “In this way, most of the corona rules can be eliminated nationwide, but at the same time there is the possibility that the federal states, for example in the event of a sharp increase in the number of infections, then reintroduce necessary measures such as wearing a mask or testing to a limited extent.”
Meanwhile, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) called for the introduction of a general obligation to vaccinate. “There is no way around a general obligation to vaccinate as a last resort. It is the most effective precautionary measure for further waves from autumn, »said BDI President Siegfried Russwurm to the RND.
Source: Stern
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