Status: 02.11.2021 12:32 p.m.
General practitioner boss Weigeldt considers the categorical exclusion of mandatory vaccinations to be the “biggest mistake in corona policy”. Caregivers should be vaccinated, he says. The social association VdK is pushing for tests in health and care facilities.
With a view to new corona outbreaks in old people’s and nursing homes, general practitioner chief Ulrich Weigeldt has spoken out in favor of compulsory vaccination for the specialists there. “Those who are not vaccinated cannot and should not work in old people’s and nursing homes,” said the head of the association for “Wirtschaftswoche”. “This should actually be a matter of course from the point of view of the job, if I take care of seriously ill and particularly vulnerable people.”
The government categorically ruled out compulsory vaccination. “I consider that to be your biggest mistake in the corona policy, in addition to the lack of tests in the homes at the beginning of the pandemic.”
Either vaccinate or get corona
The general practitioner chief calls on the federal and state governments to develop specific ideas for vaccination incentives at the planned vaccination summit. “The calculation this autumn and winter is relatively simple,” said Weigeldt. “Either you get vaccinated – or you will get corona with the risk of a severe course.” Therefore, politicians should do everything in their power to convince those who have not yet been vaccinated to be vaccinated.
The North Rhine-Westphalian head of government and chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference, Hendrik Wüst, was somewhat more reluctant when asked about mandatory vaccination in care facilities: “I am convinced that the vast majority of people in care homes who work there know themselves that vaccination is wise is, “he said. “And I hope that those who didn’t know before, now get on the funnel.”
Compulsory testing in clinics and care facilities
The social association VdK is pushing for a test requirement for all visitors and employees in care facilities and hospitals. “Such an obligation is urgently necessary regardless of the vaccination status,” said VdK President Verena Bentele in a message. “The number of infected people is rising again across Germany, and people who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered can also transmit the virus at the same time. Therefore, we must act quickly now.”
The facilities must ensure that all visitors and employees are offered free tests and only those who have tested negative are allowed access. “Human lives are at stake.”
The recent increase in the corona numbers is accompanied by warnings of overloading the clinics, and infections in care facilities are also causing concern. In one Retirement home in Brandenburg there were at least eleven deaths after a corona outbreak.