In Germany, the number of known infections has risen by 20,398 to 4.6 million, according to data on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). That is almost twice as many new infections as the day before. The number of deaths increases by 194 to 96 027. The RKI puts the seven-day incidence at 146.6 after 153.7 on the previous day. The sharp decline is likely to have something to do with reporting delays due to public holidays. (03/11/2021)
Lauterbach for the quick reopening of the vaccination centers
According to a media report, the SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach calls for as many vaccination centers as possible to be reopened so that booster vaccinations can initially be carried out for people over the age of 70. This will be “expensive and complicated”, says Lauterbach to the editorial network Germany (RND). However, the reopening is still worthwhile: “We now need a very high speed with the booster vaccinations.” (03/11/2021)
In the US, children five years and older can be vaccinated starting this week
The US disease agency CDC is clearing the way for children between the ages of five and eleven to be vaccinated with the aid of Biontech / Pfizer. A corresponding recommendation from CDC director Rochelle Walensky comes hours after the approval of specialist advisors. The US FDA issued emergency approval for vaccinations on Friday. In an initial statement from the Office of the President, it is said that the vaccination program for children will now be ramped up. (03/11/2021)
Baden-Württemberg tightened corona measures
In Baden-Württemberg, the corona warning level comes into force on Wednesday. The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units exceeded 250 on Tuesday for the second working day in a row: This means that stricter rules apply again, especially for those who have not been vaccinated.
Those who have not been vaccinated or recovered will in future have to show a PCR test instead of a quick test for numerous leisure activities in closed rooms. These include restaurants, cinemas and swimming pools. In the future, a 3G certificate will be required for museums, trade fairs or canteens outdoors, but a quick test is usually sufficient here. No test was necessary so far. In addition, the stricter rules provide for contact restrictions to one household and five other people. Vaccinated persons and genesis as well as people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt from the regulation. Children and young people up to the age of 17 are also not included.
Health Minister Manne Lucha (Greens) speaks of a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”. Almost without exception, non-vaccinated patients with a severe course are in the intensive care units, he says.
Saxony also wants to tighten the corona measures. The cabinet discussed the key points of a new protection ordinance on Tuesday: It provides for the introduction of the 2G rule for restaurants, indoor events or major events. FFP-2 masks should be compulsory in local public transport, the mask requirement in class is not lifted. The cabinet wants to make a final decision on Friday, and the ordinance will come into force next Monday. (02/11/2021)
Stiko-Chef: Booster for those particularly at risk
How is the pandemic developing? At the federal press conference, Andreas Gassen, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), Thomas Mertens, the Chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) and Martin Scherer, the President of the German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DEGAM), talked about the current situation in Germany and the outlook for the winter.
According to Gassen, 15 million people in Germany will have to receive a booster vaccination by the end of December. “That is feasible,” says Gassen. The medical practices in Germany are able to do this, a reopening of the vaccination centers is not necessary. However, the framework conditions would have to be right for this. It is not helpful if these are changed every few weeks by politics. The persons concerned would have to be written to in an orderly manner. Gassen also calls for more flexible options for practices when ordering vaccines and handling larger vaccine vials.
Vaccination boosters (“boosters”) are possible at least six months after a full vaccination. For the time being, Stiko recommends it for people aged 70 and over, among others. According to a resolution by the federal and state health ministers, they can also be offered to older people aged 60 and over, corona risk groups and people who have been vaccinated with Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson. In principle, according to the vaccination ordinance, they are also possible for all other people.
According to its head Thomas Mertens, the Standing Vaccination Commission is still examining whether a booster vaccination for under 60-year-olds does not make sense for individual protection, but with a view to passing the virus on to the population. Healthy middle-aged people with primary immunization could assume that they still have adequate protection against severe Covid 19 disease. Protection against infection diminishes over time, but protection against serious illness does not.
Mertens emphasizes that basic immunization is more important than re-vaccinations. There are 30 percent of the areas in Germany where the initial vaccination rate is far too low, says Mertens. First of all, those who need the vaccination most urgently should be protected: including people over 70, immunocompromised, medical staff and nurses.
Martin Scherer, President of the German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine, believes the current situation could “be a blueprint for the next few years”. A miracle cure for Corona is not yet in sight, he therefore assumes that the coming winters will be similar. He also shares the opinion of Stiko boss Mertens: Priority must be given to vaccinating those who need vaccination protection most. From a medical point of view, it would be “unforgivable to repeat the mistake made last year”: People in nursing homes in particular need to be vaccinated and protected at an early stage.
KBV boss Gassen considers a debate about compulsory vaccination for nursing staff to be necessary. This is justified, although he is generally against compulsory vaccination. At the very least, non-vaccinated staff should no longer have contact with patients. Compulsory vaccination is a political decision. (02/11/2021)
The Netherlands are reintroducing the mask requirement
In view of the increasing number of infections, the Netherlands are introducing new restrictions in the fight against the corona pandemic. This includes the mask requirement, as Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced. In addition, starting next Saturday, the “Corona Pass” will be more stringent as proof of a vaccination or a negative test in many public places such as museums. More than 1200 Covid patients are currently being treated in hospitals in the Netherlands – more than in five months. In September, the country relaxed the measures against Corona in parts. (02/11/2021)
Stiko is reviewing recommendation for booster vaccinations for everyone
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) wants to decide at short notice whether booster vaccinations against the coronavirus are recommended for everyone in Germany. We are currently checking very intensively, said Stiko chairman Thomas Mertens to the newspapers of the Funke media group. There are data from international studies that speak in favor of it, but it must be examined to what extent these results can be transferred to Germany. “A decision will be made in a few weeks,” said Mertens. With such a general recommendation for booster vaccinations, the decisive question is whether this can slow down the spread of the virus, said Mertens.
So far, the Stiko has recommended booster vaccinations for people aged 70 and over. However, the acting Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) had pointed out that according to the vaccination ordinance, in principle all people were entitled to booster vaccinations. Medical representatives then criticized Spahn. As a result of Spahn’s statement, the need for information and discussion in the practices that set the vaccinations will increase, said the general practitioners’ association, for example.
“The current ‘free beer mood’ surprises me very much,” said Federal Chairman Ulrich Weigeldt of the newspaper world. “Open all vaccination centers, booster vaccinations without age restrictions – scientific and medical knowledge and the experiences of the past months are wiped off the table.”
He sees no reason why the medical practices that “finally ignited the vaccination turbo should not be able to provide the booster vaccinations – if no obstacles are put in their way,” said Weigeldt. The problem is currently not a lack of vaccination centers, but a low willingness to vaccinate: “However, those who are hesitant, insecure and especially those who oppose vaccination certainly do not walk into the vaccination center.” These people can be reached in the practices if they make an appointment because of other health problems, said the head of the general practitioner association.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, two thirds of the population in Germany are currently fully vaccinated against Corona. That’s 55.5 million people. Of the 24.1 million people who are over 60 years old, 85 percent are said to be fully vaccinated. According to these statistics, two million people have received a booster vaccination so far.