Demand of the statutory health insurance physicians: End of the restrictions for vaccinated persons?

Politicians are concerned about vaccination progress in Germany. At the weekend, penalties for those who missed appointments were discussed. In contrast, Gassen, head of statutory health insurance, relies on positive incentives.

Almost seven months after the start of the corona vaccinations in Germany, there is growing concern about the highly contagious Delta variant – and about a declining willingness to vaccinate among the population.

The chairman of the board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, therefore called for the end of all corona measures for fully vaccinated people. “By September at the latest, a vaccination offer will be available for everyone who wants to be vaccinated, then almost all Corona measures will have to go,” he told the “Bild”. “Everyone can still decide individually whether he or she wants to continue wearing a mask – but it should no longer be an obligation.”

The elimination of the measures is important in order to keep the vaccination morale high. “Otherwise, some people will ask themselves: Why should I get vaccinated, maybe accept two days of headache or other side effects of the vaccination and do something for the herd immunity if I still have to wear a mask just because 20 to 30 percent of people refuse.”

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 37.9 percent of the German population are currently fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. 55.6 percent received at least one vaccine dose.

At the weekend, the debate on sanctions or incentives for those unwilling to vaccinate had picked up. The trigger was the demand of the President of the Berlin Red Cross, Mario Czaja, to introduce a “vaccination deadline tax” of 25 to 30 euros.

in the ARD–morning magazine the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group, Marco Buschmann, spoke out against possible fines for people who do not attend a vaccination appointment. “A punishment is the wrong thing. It is a medical procedure. We need the consent of the people. And if I now expose people to a penalty risk when they register, then I may ensure that fewer people register.” And that’s the opposite of what we want. We need as many vaccinated people as possible. ”

The incidence is low, but the trend is reversing

The Robert Koch Institute reported 212 new corona infections within one day in the morning. A week ago the value was 219 infections. The seven-day incidence remains unchanged at 5.0. Although the incidence has fallen steadily since April, there have recently been signs of a possible trend reversal, which pandemic experts have been warning of for a long time due to the increasing spread of the particularly contagious delta variant.

This is also why the SPD leader Saskia Esken asked the Standing Vaccination Commission STIKO to reconsider its stance on the corona vaccination of young people. “We urgently need a vaccine for children, and I also hope that the STIKO will soon reconsider its restricted vaccination recommendation for young people,” she told the “Rheinische Post”.

“Giving a generation back their freedoms”

At the weekend, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder appealed to STIKO to urgently consider when to recommend vaccinating young people. The most effective means against the Delta variant is the school vaccination. The incidence figures are particularly high in the younger age groups, according to the CSU boss. Vaccinating young people not only increases protection for everyone, but also gives back more freedom to a generation that has had to forego a lot, said Söder.

The STIKO has not yet issued a general vaccination recommendation for children and adolescents from the age of twelve. She recommends vaccinations only for 12 to 17 year olds with certain pre-existing conditions such as obesity, diabetes and chronic lung diseases. The committee justified its recommendation, among other things, with the fact that the risk of severe Covid 19 disease for this age group is low.