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Health Minister Holetschek
Photo: Peter Kneffel / dpa
With the vaccinations in the general practitioners' practices, the vaccination campaign in Germany should pick up speed - but the large deliveries of the vaccines are still a long way off.
Bavaria's Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) has therefore now spoken out in favor of a stronger focus on first vaccinations in order to increase the vaccination rate in Germany.
As soon as it has been scientifically clarified that the distance between the first and second vaccination can be delayed further, the countries should implement that, he told SPIEGEL.
However, this requires a corresponding recommendation from Stiko.
"We are in the third wave of the pandemic, and studies have shown that there is already a high level of protection after the first vaccination," said Holetschek, who is also chairman of the conference of health ministers: "That is why we now have the vaccine reserves in Bavaria this way as good as resolved. "
With the vaccine from AstraZeneca, the period between the first and second vaccination has already been increased from six to twelve weeks and the intervals with the vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer from three to six weeks.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has recommended vaccination intervals of six weeks for mRNA vaccines since the beginning of April.
By July, 60 million people could have been vaccinated for the first time
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach has long been calling for a change in the vaccination strategy.
If the interval between the second vaccination for the vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna were extended from six to twelve weeks, over 60 million people in Germany could have been vaccinated for the first time by July, he recently told the Augsburger Allgemeine.
This would protect you against serious illnesses.
"If we change our strategy now and focus on as many primary vaccinations as possible, a fourth lockdown will no longer be necessary."
Lauterbach had referred to experiences from Great Britain and model calculations with his participation, according to which »well over 10,000« deaths could be prevented in this way.
"Study results from Australia indicate that the protection of the mRNA vaccines between the sixth and twelfth week after the vaccination is so pronounced that the risk of severe courses with hospital stays or fatal outcome is extremely low in the event of a corona infection."
"Now the first are demanding a faster second vaccination so that they can take advantage of the vaccination privileges"
Klaus Holetschek
After Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn had promised privileges for vaccinated people at the weekend, the next discussion about the vaccination strategy is now taking place at the same time, State Health Minister Holetschek warned: “Now the first are demanding a faster second vaccination so that they can take advantage of the vaccination privileges.
I think this discussion is too early «.
