The Astrazeneca vaccine has not been used in people under the age of 60 since Tuesday.
Not only does this mess up the vaccination campaign, it also raises many questions.
Munich
- The constant back and forth about the already controversial vaccine from Astrazeneca * is increasingly unsettling the population.
According to the latest recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), the vaccine may only be administered to people over 60 years of age.
But what about those who have already had a primary vaccination?
And how does the recommendation affect work in the vaccination centers and medical practices?
We clarify.
Corona vaccination: Conference of health ministers decides to stop Astrazeneca for under-60s
On Tuesday (March 30th) the health ministers of the federal states met for a virtual vaccination conference (GMK).
The most decisive topic of the ministerial round was probably the recommendation of the STIKO to inoculate the Astrazeneca vaccine only in people over 60 years.
The reason for this recommendation was the increased occurrence of cerebral vein thrombosis, which is rare in itself, in connection with the vaccination.
So far there have been 31 cases of this rare disease in Germany (as of March 30).
The cases occurred in people between the ages of 20 and 60, writes the Bavarian State Ministry for Health and Care (StmGP) in a press release.
The ministers then decided to stop vaccination * for under-60s for the time being.
But what does that mean for the German and the Bavarian vaccination campaign?
First of all, the GMK chairman and Bavarian health minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) emphasized once again that the Astrazeneca vaccine is nevertheless a “highly effective vaccine”.
“We need it to speed up the vaccinations in view of the third wave and dangerous virus mutations *.” The CSU politician continued: “That is why we recommend that the countries themselves can decide whether to prioritize vaccinations at Astrazeneca for the people 60 years to cancel.
This way we can offer the age group over 60 a vaccination offer more quickly, which is urgently needed. ”In addition, the GMK decided that people under the age of 60 will continue to use the vaccine from Astrazeneca, which has recently been renamed Vaxzevria *, based on an individual assessment and medical judgment get vaccinated.
Corona vaccination: Numerous appointment cancellations according to STIKO recommendations
The sudden reassessment of STIKO has not made the work in the vaccination centers and general practitioners in Bavaria any easier.
The head of the vaccination center in Peißenberg *, Christian Achmüller, reports: "On Tuesday evening I canceled all Astrazeneca appointments that were planned for Wednesday and assigned new ones with the Moderna vaccine." At the Fürstenfeldbruck vaccination center, 165 appointments had to be canceled by Sunday.
And family doctor Georg Miedl * from Freising says: “The recent U-turn in dealing with Astrazeneca is a burden for medical practices.
Because we now have to reschedule again. ”But he doesn't want this to be understood as a criticism of the STIKO.
"Recommendations are usually made with the utmost care."
How things will now proceed with people who have already received a first vaccination with Astrazeneca has not yet been finally clarified.
The Ministry of Health relies on STIKO, which has announced that it intends to provide binding information on this topic by the end of April.
“We cannot leave people in the dark for so long.
That is why we need clarity as soon as possible when it comes to second vaccinations, ”says Health Minister Holetschek.
For people who were vaccinated shortly before the vaccine was reassessed, the Ministry issued the following recommendation: “We call on all people who have already been vaccinated with Astrazeneca to watch out for symptoms such as persistent headaches, shortness of breath and leg swelling.
If this happens, consult your doctor as a precaution.
Safety first!"
Corona: Three scenarios how things will continue after an initial impulse with Astrazeneca
There is still no clear statement from the Ministry of Health or the STIKO on the subject of a second vaccination.
However, the Freising doctor Miedl believes three scenarios are conceivable.
“The first possibility is to leave it with a one-off protection and later do a booster with a different vaccine.” Miedl continues: “The second scenario is that the second vaccination takes place with a different vaccine.
Science is currently examining this and working on appropriate schemes. ”The third variant is to wait until there are new findings in connection with the vaccine and the occurrence of cerebral vein thrombosis.
“It is possible that those who tolerated the vaccine the first time could also receive a second vaccination.
I assume so, but so far there is no scientific basis for this. "
It is not yet clear whether the STIKO recommendation will lead to another vaccination backlog.
The rejection of a vaccination with Astrazeneca has apparently not increased, according to the head of the Ebersberg vaccination center *, Liam Klage.
“We continue to observe that around ten to 15 percent of people do not want to be vaccinated with Astrazeneca.
That has not changed. ”And Achmüller from the Peißenberg vaccination center adds:“ The only good news is that only comparatively small amounts of Astrazeneca vaccine were announced in April. ”For the coming week, considerable amounts are dated Biontech vaccine * announced.
So it can continue to be vaccinated.
(tel)
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