Second vaccinations in the Starnberg district: "A mountain has built up" - anger about Spahn's statement

There are now so many second vaccinations in the district that the first vaccinations are being reduced.

And Jens Spahn's announcement that he will be able to inject the second Astrazeneca dose after just four weeks puts doctors in distress.

District Administrator Stefan Frey is also annoyed by the statement.

District - More than 52,000 people in the district have received at least one injection for the coronavirus.

The quota of those vaccinated for the first time is heading towards 40 percent of the district residents.

You have to take into account that medical staff who live elsewhere have also been vaccinated in the district - but also that children and young people for whom there is no vaccination offer are also among the residents.

It won't go so fast in the next two to three weeks - at least not with the first vaccinations in the vaccination centers.

In return, a relatively large number of people get full protection against Covid-19.

"A mountain of second vaccinations has built up because the intervals have changed again and again," says Roland Schwankhart, head of the district vaccination center.

It is definitely a logistical challenge.

"We'll have enough vaccine, but we have to plan well"

"We'll have enough vaccine, but we have to plan well," explains Schwankhart.

The second Biontech vaccine should initially be administered after three weeks, meanwhile the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends six weeks.

At Astrazeneca it was a long time from nine to twelve weeks.

Health Minister Jens Spahn has now announced the prospect of a second injection four weeks apart.

The changes in the intervals will lead to a clustering effect from this week on, which will also reach the vaccinating doctors - but only in a few weeks because they started the first vaccinations later.

The Astrazeneca vaccine mainly ends up in the practices, and there is no longer any prioritization for it. The vaccination centers only hold back the doses for the second syringe, says Schwankhart. At the weekend, some of these appointments were postponed and those affected were called personally. Those who were supposed to get their vaccination after nine weeks will now get it after twelve weeks. The Astrazeneca vaccine is most effective at this interval. This is also what the Stiko recommends.

Spahn's four-week announcement evidently awakens the hope of many people to “vaccinate” themselves for the summer vacation.

The rights that people who have been vaccinated have now been given back are also an incentive.

"Everyone wants their second vaccination earlier," reports the Gilching internist Dr.

Markus von Rebay the Starnberg Mercury.

The phone no longer stood still on Friday.

His employees are at the limit, some toyed with the idea of ​​quitting.

He knows colleagues who want to stop vaccinating because of the high workload and the low income from it.

In the direction of Jens Spahn, von Rebay says: “Just put out statements and we'll pay for them.

It doesn't work like that. "

District Administrator: "The high politicians have to pull themselves together"

District Administrator Stefan Frey is also annoyed by the Minister of Health's move.

"I don't understand such announcements, because the high-ranking politicians have to pull themselves together," says the CSU politician about his colleague from the Union.

And he emphasizes: "We are sticking to the twelve weeks recommended by Stiko." You cannot postpone appointments just because someone wants to go on vacation earlier or enjoy freedom.

He understands the doctors' criticism.

Doctors like von Rebay report that people who got their first vaccination at the vaccination center now want the second one with him.

The vaccination center manager Schwankhart says: "There are also those who come to us, even though they received the first vaccination from the family doctor." But the rule is: where you get the first dose, you get the second.

The doctors have a large share in the rapid vaccination rate in the district. A look at the statistics shows that. Within a month they almost caught up with the vaccination centers, which are now capped to a total of 3500 doses a week, for the first vaccinations.

For a long time, the district saw itself at a disadvantage in the vaccination campaign.

Many clinics, old people's homes and also general practitioners' practices had to be vaccinated before the other citizens got their turn.

But now the district with the highest practice density in all of Germany has an advantage.

"That throws one or the other envious look at Starnberg," admits Frey.

The district administrator, who previously complained loudly about the only distribution criterion population, is now logically holding back.

But he emphasizes: “To cut the vaccine for our doctors now would be complete nonsense.

There is enough for everyone.

The curve only goes up. "

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