Jens Spahn on vaccinations: AstraZeneca is to be used in medical practices from April 18

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Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn

Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS

After a jerky vaccination start in Germany, vaccinations are starting today in general practitioners' practices.

At a press conference, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn gave an outlook on the effects on vaccination speed.

“We'll see the next step in this vaccination campaign next week.

That won't be a big step yet, but an important one, "said Spahn.

13.8 million doses of vaccine have been inoculated to date.

9.6 million Germans received their first vaccination, said Spahn.

35,000 general practitioners have requested vaccination doses for the coming week.

In total, they would have ordered 1.4 million cans.

According to federal and state plans, 940,000 cans will initially be delivered.

At the end of April, more than three million vaccine doses should be able to go into the practices.

In the first two weeks, only the active ingredient Biontech is inoculated in the practices.

From 18.4.

the vaccine from AstraZeneca followed, then that of Johnson & Johnson.

Spahn emphasized once again that the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine was very high.

Most recently, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) only recommended the vaccine for people older than 60 years.

Younger people can still be vaccinated with the vaccine after consulting their doctor.

The vaccination start is good news for many patients.

But anyone who has an appointment at a vaccination center should not cancel it.

The chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, added that there was huge potential in the practices.

He is confident that, despite the initially small amount, there will be a good start in the practices.

AstraZeneca will also be inoculated in the practices according to the Stiko recommendation.

In terms of quantity, however, Biontech plays the biggest role.

Gabriele Overwiening from the Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Associations said that her association takes care of logistics and documentation.

The number of vaccine doses would gradually increase, making distribution more complicated.

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