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Survey among paediatricians in Tölzer Land: reluctance to vaccinate young people

2021-07-01T09:06:19.822Z


The vaccinations against Covid-19 are progressing across Germany. For a month it has been possible for children from the age of twelve to be immunized. The demand from paediatricians in Tölzer Land varies.


The vaccinations against Covid-19 are progressing across Germany.

For a month it has been possible for children from the age of twelve to be immunized.

The demand from paediatricians in Tölzer Land varies.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

- The incidence figures are falling everywhere, the number of those who have already been vaccinated is increasing. The Biontech vaccine has now also been approved for children from the age of twelve. "The onslaught remains within limits," says the Tölz pediatrician Dr. Martin Grundhuber. The group practice receives around five to ten inquiries a day. Mostly they are parents of children who have a certain pre-existing illness, "often asthma". However, according to Grundhuber, asthma patients are not classified in the highest priority group. In the case of children, the highest priority group includes those with obesity, heart failure or diabetes. In practice, children with such diseases are already in view.

"If someone between the ages of 12 and 17 is a high-risk patient, then the vaccination certainly makes sense"

Vaccination has been going on in the practice for a few weeks, according to Grundhuber, but at the beginning one also started with older people from the priority groups, for example grandparents of patients.

"We adhere to the recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission." This initially stated that only people over 18 should be vaccinated.

"Then it was called Biontech from 16 years of age." Finally, the recommendation came to vaccinate children from the age of twelve with certain previous illnesses.

"If someone between the ages of 12 and 17 is a high-risk patient, then the vaccination certainly makes sense," says Grundhuber.

In other cases the parents would be spoken to individually.

Most of them are still very cautious.

“We have to drive on sight here,” he recommends.

Young people can become super spreaders

Basically, it makes sense to vaccinate children from puberty onwards, as they can easily become super spreaders.

"Smaller children are more likely to be infected by others and are less likely to pass the virus on." But not all of the adult priority groups have been vaccinated and adolescents are less likely to be affected, according to the pediatrician.

"We have to be able to protect the particularly endangered groups of people."

Children without previous illnesses are put on a waiting list

The demand is also at Dr.

Carolin Lang from Bad Tölz is present, the interest is great.

"According to the Stiko, we should only vaccinate children with previous illnesses, but more and more parents of children without previous illnesses are reporting." These would be noted on a waiting list.

"We tell the parents that the evaluated data on possible side effects in children are missing," says Lang.

As long as one will not approach the parents proactively.

Children over twelve years of age with previous illnesses would be vaccinated in their practice, as well as adolescents over 17 if they and their parents so wish.

"Under 17 only with previous illnesses."

The spread of the delta variant could change the recommendation of the Stiko

However, the delta variant could change a lot.

"Children are more affected by this," says Lang.

In England the numbers would go through the roof, especially among schoolchildren.

"We have to keep an eye on it and watch the development."

At Dr.

Beatrice Heineking from the Oberland Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Geretsried and Wolfratshausen are already asking many parents about vaccinations for children and adolescents.

"We then explain to them and tell them that we are sticking to the Stiko recommendation." If parents of children without previous illnesses explicitly want the vaccination, they would also be vaccinated.

“We follow the wishes of the parents.” She also assumes that the Stiko may change its recommendation again in view of the spreading delta variant.

Dr.

Jörg Lohse, medical coordinator in the district, is still reluctant to vaccinate children.

He currently only recommends it for previous illnesses or certain risk factors.

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-07-01

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