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Child vaccination in the USA - soon also in Germany?
Photo: HANNAH BEIER / REUTERS
The vaccinations for five- to eleven-year-old children in Germany and other EU countries against the new type of coronavirus are expected to start the week after next.
According to SPIEGEL information, the manufacturers Biontech and Pfizer have informed the EU Commission that they will be able to deliver their vaccine "Comirnaty", which has been adapted for children, on December 13th.
So far, December 20th was scheduled.
A senior commission official confirmed to SPIEGEL that the pharmaceutical companies want to bring forward their deliveries.
»Corminaty« is supplied in a special dilution and in different ampoules for children.
Germany will initially receive 2.4 million cans.
This would allow tens of thousands of children to get their first spades before Christmas - and build at least some protection against the virus in the middle of the fourth wave.
In this age group in particular, the incidences are even higher than in most other age groups.
Last week the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended vaccinating children;
so far there is no corresponding vaccine.
However, it is questionable whether the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) will give its place for the vaccinations of five to eleven year olds in time for December 13th.
Although the children could be vaccinated legally without the recommendation of the Stiko, it is to be expected that many doctors in Germany will refuse to immunize the five to eleven year olds without the green light from the Stiko.
At least that's how it was with the vaccination of 12 to 15 year old adolescents.
The Stiko hesitated here for months - before it made a general recommendation.
