Anyone who sees how Markus Söder (CSU), Michael Müller (SPD), Stephan Weil (SPD) and other Prime Ministers work off Stiko boss Thomas Mertens can be reminded of Kafka. The politicians shake, shake, threaten and charm, urge and whine, but Mertens remains provocatively friendly and calm. What should the 71-year-old virologist do but refer to science? However, quite a few politicians and other impatient contemporaries convey the impression that Mertens would – as Kafka’s bouncer denied entry to the country man in the story “Before the Law” – only refused them the desire to finally make a recommendation in their favor and that Propose general vaccination of children and adolescents, including those under 16 years of age.
SZ: Mr. Mertens, what do you think of the prime ministers’ demands to vaccinate children from the age of twelve?
Thomas Mertens: As far as I understand it, children from the age of twelve should be given more vaccinations. That is not a fundamental change in the current situation. Vaccination of children in this age group is also possible now. Politicians can certainly make the offer in the sense of a general preventive measure, which does not have to be evidence-based.
Doesn’t that seem like a déjà vu to you in view of the demands made by Prime Minister Markus Söder a few weeks ago?
Many politicians have now expressed themselves with different nuances. You can all rest assured that Stiko is very aware of its responsibility and is working flat out on an updated, evidence-based recommendation without my being able to anticipate the result today.
How do you respond to the demand that children be vaccinated as quickly as possible?
I am concerned that this is a proxy discussion that is moving away from our real problem. It would be crucial to fully vaccinate 18 to 59 year olds with the abundant vaccine available. It is very clear that the course of the “next wave” depends on this and only marginally on the vaccination of the children. It would also be important to implement the catalog of measures in the S3 guideline, which is supported by a large number of scientific specialist societies, in schools in order to ensure school lessons. You have to consider that around 9.1 million children under the age of twelve cannot be vaccinated, i.e. all children in crèches, kindergartens, elementary schools and the first years of secondary schools. It is all the more important to implement the catalog of measures to secure schools.
Does the spread of the Delta variant or the occurrence of vaccination breakthroughs change the assessment of the Stiko or does the child vaccination appear more urgent?
That would actually be the case especially if the delta variant made children sicker than the previous virus variants. There is currently no evidence for this.
“Let alone – what should I do?” Thomas Mertens, the chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission.
(Photo: Kay Nietfeld / picture alliance / dpa)
Which data and sources do you rely on if the Stiko does not yet recommend child vaccination from the age of twelve, and which data would instead be necessary for such a recommendation?
There are mainly three questions on which we are continuously evaluating all new findings: What role does the virus play for the health / diseases of children? How safe is the vaccine in the age group if the burden of disease is not high? What effect can one expect from the vaccination of this age group on the further course of the pandemic in Germany, including of course the effects on the children? More recent data are available for all three questions, but only partially answer the first two questions – in contrast to what is sometimes publicly expressed. I can assure you that Stiko and the employees of the RKI are working flat out to carry out these analyzes and evaluations and are very aware of their responsibility.
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Can you give a time horizon?
Best available evidence means looking for everything you know and what you don’t know. That is the job of Stiko, and that is what we must and will continue to do. I hope that we can finalize an updated recommendation in the next ten days without my being able to anticipate the result.
Do you feel cornered by the public and political pressures?
I don’t think the political pressure is helpful. Neither for the work of the Stiko nor with regard to the proverbial uncertainty of the people in the country. The seemingly high temporal pressure that is generated is in many cases certainly not justified.
How do you react to the fact that more and more medical colleagues and professional associations are recommending child vaccination?
Let it go – what should I do?
In which other countries are children from the age of twelve vaccinated, on what scientific basis – and how do their colleagues there justify the procedure, the evidence is the same worldwide?
Everywhere – including ours – decisions are made partly evidence-based and partly political. It is entirely possible and permissible for politicians to make decisions with reference to preventive health care that do not necessarily have to be evidence-based. It is important to be clear about this.
What could defuse the current – heated – debate?
More calm activity, less general excitement and hectic pace with questionable meaning and benefit and more rationality in the preparations, decisions and implementation of meaningful measures.