A new problem for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD): The job-related vaccination requirement for nurses and hospital staff, which will actually take effect from mid-March, is on the brink.
As the Tagesspiegel learned from government and state circles, several federal states are insisting on a postponement. Instead, for example, one should first wait for the introduction and acceptance of the new vaccine from the manufacturer Novavax, according to an East German state chancellery.
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Too many nurses are skeptical and can no longer come to work because of the obligation to vaccinate – new vaccines, especially so-called dead vaccines, could find more acceptance than the previous ones based on the new mRNA, it is emphasized in country circles. The new Novavax protein vaccine and inactivated vaccines like the pending Valneva vaccine are seen as an option to convince more vaccine skeptics.
The first shipment of 1.75 million doses of Novavax is expected to be available from February 21, but two shots could delay launch by several weeks. There should be at least three weeks between the first and second vaccination. The topic could also be on the agenda of the new federal-state meeting on the corona pandemic this Monday, it said.
From mid-March, a corona vaccination requirement for employees in clinics, nursing homes, medical and dental practices, rescue and nursing services, birth centers and other medical and nursing facilities should actually apply in Germany – from then on the vaccination certificates must be presented. Anyone who cannot present proof of immunity at this point is generally no longer allowed to work there.
Lauterbach should improve “immediately”.
On Saturday there was also a switching conference of the state health ministers on the subject. One resolution avoided the behind-the-scenes issue of a pending delay, but the de facto demands are that, or a softening.
First of all, more information on the specific implementation of Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is requested. They are also in favor of examining a multi-stage procedure so that unvaccinated employees do not have to be immediately banned from working.
So far, the health department should be able to issue a ban on activity if proof of vaccination is not presented – now it is proposed that fines should initially be used as a milder sanction.
In addition, the health ministers are calling for the Novavax vaccine, which will soon be available, to be offered primarily to this group of people. Lauterbach should “immediately” clarify all open questions on the subject, for example who exactly should be vaccinated, what exceptions there are and how those affected are heard.
Also Söder for checking the vaccination requirement for clinics and homes
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) also spoke out in favor of a review of the facility-related vaccination requirement, which by law will apply from March 15th. “It would have been better to make vaccination compulsory for everyone from the outset, instead of just for individual groups. Because the premature introduction in the nursing and hospital sector can lead to a loss of nursing capacity,” says the CSU boss of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”. “Therefore, a uniform date for everyone should be checked again.” He also warned against excessive staff migration.
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NRW head of government calls for accelerated vaccination procedure
With regard to the general obligation to vaccinate, which is still under discussion, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), is campaigning for an accelerated procedure in the Bundestag and Bundesrat, so that compulsory corona vaccination from the age of 18 will come into force in April, or at the latest in early May can step. “Since the Chancellor’s announcement of compulsory vaccination from the beginning of February was unfortunately not complied with, we now need all the more speed,” Wüst told the Tagesspiegel. “This obligation must apply from spring, we as states must ultimately implement it together with the municipalities.”
He expressly agrees with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is calling for it to come into force in April or May. “We as Union countries are ready to start consultations at an early stage on the basis of a concrete draft in order to achieve accelerated decision-making by the Bundestag and Bundesrat.”
Seven MPs from the coalition factions of the SPD, FDP and Greens launched a first concrete initiative on Friday for an obligation from the age of 18. They want to develop a draft for this after the orientation debate planned for next Wednesday in the Bundestag. SPD leader Saskia Esken announced on Saturday during a presidium retreat that he would vote for this proposal in the Bundestag.