Third syringe
“Sluggish progress”: Experts and politicians are calling for Corona boosters to be faster
For some, the last corona vaccination was six months ago – time for a refresher.
© Paul Sancya / AP / DPA
The third vaccination is also prioritized – priority is currently given to particularly vulnerable groups. But in the face of rising incidences, experts and politicians are calling for a quick refreshment.
In view of increasing corona incidences, politicians and experts have spoken out in favor of more third-party vaccinations against Covid-19 for the elderly and risk groups. The so-called booster vaccinations can usually be given six months after the second spike so that further antibodies are formed. “Booster vaccinations for the vulnerable groups are urgently needed, especially in view of the increasing numbers,” said Dirk Heinrich, Federal Chairman of the Virchow Association of Resident Doctors, of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ). “Unfortunately, this is not uniformly regulated nationwide, so that there are delays in some places.”
The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach told the newspapers of the Funke media group: “In view of the increasing number of cases, including among older people, a new vaccination campaign to use booster vaccinations in this age group is now absolutely necessary.” Left leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow called for more speed in the refreshments in the Funke newspapers. “Third-party vaccinations must now be initiated as quickly as possible, the current corona numbers are terrifying.” Hennig-Wellsow emphasized that “the third vaccination must be advertised in the same way as the first and second”.
Brysch: Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians responsible for “sluggish progress”
The President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (Divi), Gernot Marx, also told the Funke Group newspapers that he said that “the booster vaccination plays a very important role in combating the pandemic”. This applies to both patients and hospital staff.
Eugen Brysch, board member of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, complained about the “sluggish course” of the third-party vaccinations. “The statutory health insurance associations are responsible for ensuring that after a good three months just twelve percent of those over 70 years of age have received a third vaccination offer,” said Brysch of the NOZ. “Now it is taking its toll that the vaccination centers and mobile teams have largely been abolished, precisely because of pressure from the health insurance physician officials.”
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new corona cases reported per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was 110.1 nationwide. The previous day the seven-day incidence was 106.3, a week ago 74.4. There are big regional differences – from 53.0 in Saarland to 224.3 in Thuringia. The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days rose to 2.77 according to the RKI. There is no uniform value from when the situation becomes critical. The previous high was 15.5.