From Tuesday, high-risk patients and seniors over 60 can stock up on three free FFP2 masks in pharmacies.
For the pharmacists, the government's knock-on action is a "Herculean task".
They warn of a rush with queues in front of the pharmacies and appeal to the common sense.
The distribution of the free FFP2 masks in the district begins on Tuesday.
Pharmacists fear a great rush.
They therefore appeal to the common sense.
District - The second corona wave not only fills the intensive care units.
Now the pharmacists in the district are challenged more than ever.
Last Wednesday, they were faced with bare facts: Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, they are to give out three FFP2 masks each to risk patients and seniors over 60 years of age.
Sounds easy enough.
In fact, there are many question marks behind it.
At Dr.
Philipp Kircher, pharmacist spokesman in the district, no longer wants the phone to stand still in his pharmacy in Peißenberg (St. Ulrich pharmacy).
Since the government embassy was out, many customers have been asking about the free masks every day.
But what about supply and demand?
Kircher reassures: There are enough FFP2 masks, he emphasizes.
The three free copies will be issued by December 29th.
Customers can therefore save themselves standing in line on Tuesday.
Fear of the "toilet paper situation"
In fact, it is thanks to the pharmacists that everything now works with the issue - the federal government has decided, it has to be organized on site.
“To a certain extent, we were taken by surprise,” admits Kircher.
He himself organized 10,000 FFP2 masks for his pharmacy in Peißenberg, the St. Ulrich Apotheke.
“That should be enough for the first rush.” Nothing can be planned.
“Will ten people or 1000 come on Tuesday?” Nobody knows.
The greatest fear is that the "toilet paper situation" will occur and be hoarded.
"Then the solidarity stops very quickly."
Kirchner therefore appeals to the citizens: The first batch of free masks in a three-pack will be available until December 29th.
If everyone who claims behaves sensibly, “then we can do it!”, He is convinced.
"It's a Herculean task, but we're doing our best!"
Pharmacist Thomas Mark knows that there would have been “a bit of chaos” because of the free FFP2 mask delivery.
He is the owner of the Brunnen pharmacy in Schongau and the St. Anna pharmacy in Burggen.
“People saw that on the news and thought we'd have the masks right away.” Mark points out the logistical problem that arises for him as a pharmacist: he always has more than a hundred masks in stock.
With that he could serve 30 to 40 people.
Memories of the first lockdown come back
He has ordered a lot, he says.
“But I'm curious to see when it will arrive.” There are procurement problems.
After all, just like the post office, dealers are in the pre-Christmas stress.
And how should that be over the Christmas holidays for the January order, when many retailers are short or completely closed?
He remembers the first lockdown in March: he ordered 600 masks and got 20 after three weeks.
And then there is the question: who do the pharmacy staff give the masks to?
Are there people who wander from pharmacy to pharmacy with their ID card and then sell the "goods" they have got on Ebay in the evening?
In the small town of Burggen in particular, you know the customers.
And Thomas Mark wants to hand over the masks to them, also in Schongau.
"I think it will be noticed when someone makes a pilgrimage from pharmacy to pharmacy."
Pharmacist Joachim Lippl from the city of Penzberg Pharmacy is still struggling with certain imponderables.
Of course, he emphasizes: The time for the measure before Christmas is important - to protect yourself and others.
“Otherwise we will have a situation after Christmas that nobody wants.” But: “The whole thing would have been better a month earlier.” The suppliers are now also in the Christmas business.
Everyone now has a “mammoth logistical task to handle.
I don't know how big the rush will be ”.
Incidentally, Lippl serves mask customers at the window, normal customers in the store.
A clump in the pharmacy tomorrow, Tuesday - that would be fatal in every respect.
All pharmacists agree on that.
Who is entitled to the masks?
German citizens who have reached the age of 60 or who have one of the following diseases or risk factors: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney failure, cerebrovascular disease, especially stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, active, progressive or metastatic Cancer diseases or ongoing or upcoming therapy that may impair the immune system, organ or stem cell transplantation, high-risk pregnancy.
How many masks are there for each beneficiary?
People belonging to one of the risk groups mentioned are entitled to a total of 15 masks.
The issue takes place in three stages.
In December they are entitled to three protective masks.
In the period from January 1, 2021 to the end of February 28, 2021, you can receive six protective masks once and from February 16, 2021 to April 15, 2021, you can receive six protective masks once again.
Does a beneficiary need proof that they belong to a risk group?
In December, it is up to the pharmacies alone to check whether a customer is eligible.
With regard to age, employees must have their identity card shown.
As far as previous illnesses are concerned, the medication history can provide information for regular customers.
What's next at the turn of the year?
Then the health insurance companies send certificates to the authorized insured persons.
This certificate must be presented to the pharmacy and withdrawn by the pharmaceutical staff.
The thing is forgery-proof.
Also read:
Kreistag postpones questions about the future: The debate about painful cuts in the district budget is now to be conducted behind closed doors.
In the coming year, however, everything should remain as it was before.