In many general practitioners' practices, all hell breaks loose during "normal" times.
But now there are the corona rapid tests, the corona vaccinations and the corona sufferers: "It cannot go on like this - not only the medical staff is overworked," says Geretsrieder general practitioner Heiner Müller.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen
- The corona pandemic has shaken everyday life in the group practice of Geretsrieder general practitioner Heiner Müller.
The main challenge is to integrate the vaccinations into everyday life.
The amount of vaccination doses delivered increases every week.
While the Geretsrieder initially only received 35 doses per week, it is now 68. On Wednesdays, Müller does nothing more than vaccinate, supported by two volunteers: “We all, including ours highly committed employees like to go to our limits in order to make our contribution to overcoming the pandemic. "
Vaccinations at the family doctor are cheaper than in the vaccination centers
The placement of the syringes is the least effort. He spent "many nights" filtering out the patients who had to be vaccinated first, says the general practitioner. Then the patients had to be called. After all, every vaccination must be precisely documented so that the patient can be informed when the second vaccination - or the booster vaccinations - are due in a year's time.
For each patient, the general practitioners receive a flat rate of 20 euros, says Müller.
This money is not enough to break even the costs and to finance the staff and the rooms.
The vaccinations in the centers are much more expensive, each costing between 200 and 250 euros.
"When you see this difference, it becomes clear why politicians want to close the centers," says Müller.
“It's just a question of whether this is in the interests of vaccinating the population.” Apart from that, in the event of the closure, the doctors would hardly have the opportunity to take a few days off during the Whitsun or summer holidays: “We'll be working anyway more than at the stop. "
General practitioners and paediatricians are against the closure of vaccination centers
The Tölz pediatrician Dr.
Tobias Reploh shares the assessment of his Geretsried colleague: “It would be bad if the centers were to be closed.
If we really want to vaccinate a lot, they are great. ”At the moment, an average of eight people per second are vaccinated in Germany, says the pediatrician:“ If everyone helps together - vaccination centers, dermatologists, general practitioners, paediatricians - things are really moving forward.
I am happy that things are going so well now. "
The general practitioners would have to do the lion's share of the work, he was only active as a support.
Among other things, Reploh participated in the vaccination of teachers.
In return, he receives support from general practitioners when the vaccination of children is due in the autumn.
Big reservations about Astrazeneca's vaccine
After the bumpy start, things are now going well, the promised vaccination doses have actually been delivered. His practice is currently receiving 36 doses a week. All appointments up to June are already fully booked, the focus for the time being is on the second vaccinations. In June one can then expect larger delivery quantities. The interested parties would then be informed via the homepage. If the prioritization then falls, you have to reckon with a really big rush: "Then it will be really challenging because regular operations have to continue."
The general practitioner from Bad Heilbrunn, Friedrich Bauer, has also registered great demand for the corona vaccine in his practice - especially since it was certain that vaccinated people would get their freedom back.
He currently receives between twelve and 30 doses a week.
In the past week he was able to carry out 42 vaccinations because he had received a few doses from a psychotherapist who had ordered too many: "If there is demand, I could also vaccinate three times as much," says Bauer.
What is striking is the great skepticism towards the Astrazeneca vaccine.
50 to 60 percent of patients would refuse to be vaccinated with it: "Older people in particular tolerate it very well." Most would prefer Biontech and Moderna, although the latter is rarely delivered.
We have been working at the limit for a year and are therefore on the gums
Dr.
Matthias Pöppelmann, doctor
Dr.
Matthias Pöppelmann from the Gaißach group practice: “There is great uncertainty.
We don't even have the time to discuss and educate. ”Therefore, his practice completely dispenses with this vaccine.
Who should vaccinate during vacation times when the centers close?
In general, the Gaissachers could order more vaccine, “but we are not able to do more.
We have been working at the limit for a year and we are on the gums. ”In his opinion, it would therefore be“ the completely wrong decision ”to close the vaccination centers:“ At some point, general practitioners want to go on vacation - and then nobody vaccinates during the holidays more.
That would be a huge problem. "
The waiting list has now grown to 500 patients, and the nerves of many are blank: “Some bombard us with calls and emails.” This does not lead to anything, especially since second vaccinations are at the fore in the group practice.
An overview of the current corona development in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district is available here.
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