Bavaria’s largest doctors’ organizations protested on Tuesday that political pressure was being exerted on the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) to revise their vaccination recommendations for children and adolescents. “The Bavarian State Medical Association (BLÄK) and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria (KVB) insist on the independence of Stiko,” said a joint statement. The criticism of Chamber President Gerald Quitterer and KVB boss Wolfgang Krombholz is directed in particular against Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) without naming him directly. In an interview with BR “Kontrovers”, Söder had stated that he appreciates the Stiko, but that it is a “voluntary organization”, while “professionals” work for the European approval authority for the assessment and monitoring of pharmaceuticals. And they would have approved Biontech’s vaccine for people under the age of 18. Background of the current dissent: The Standing Vaccination Commission has so far only recommended corona vaccinations for children and adolescents from twelve to 17 years of age in exceptional cases – for example if they “have an increased risk of a severe course of Covid 19 disease due to previous illnesses” . Söder had asked Stiko to rethink its stance – also with a view to the time after the summer holidays, when Bavaria’s students return to schools and then possibly “high numbers of infections” threatened.
Quitterer and Krombholz also criticize the campaign announced by Söder as “vaccination to go” to offer vaccination facilities in “unusual places”. “With all possible advertising effectiveness, even with a low-threshold vaccination offer, the duty of care in the educational discussions between doctor and patient, the necessary hygiene standards and emergency concepts must be observed,” warned Quitterer. Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) rejected the criticism: Many would immediately lull themselves into a false sense of security. “We want to reach these people with low-threshold offers in their everyday life,” he said. With “vaccination anywhere & anytime”, all safety and hygiene standards would be maintained.