Pharmacy vaccination: general practitioners fear even more confusion – “also with omicron vaccine”

Created: 2022-02-08 13:27

By: Katarina Amtmann, Bettina Menzel, Patrick Huljina, Franziska Konrad

The incidence continues to rise in Germany.

There is a dispute about the institution-related vaccination requirement, as well as about corona vaccinations in pharmacies.

All news in the ticker.

• The 7-day incidence* in Germany reaches a new record

  (origin report)

  .

• Lauterbach criticized an announcement by the Bavarian Prime Minister Söder

  (update from February 7th, 4:56 p.m.).

• The scientist Carsten Watzl calls for the equalization of an omicron infection with the booster

  (update from February 7, 6:11 a.m.).

  
  
  

  The General Practitioners Association doubts the benefits of pharmacy vaccinations

  (update from February 8, 6:13 a.m.)

  .

• This news ticker for the corona pandemic* in Germany has ended.

  The sequel from February 8th can be found here.

Update from February 8

, 6:13 a.m . : From this Tuesday, pharmacies nationwide will also be offering the corona vaccination

.

But German general practitioners are apparently not impressed.

"Currently there is no shortage of vaccination options, but rather an oversupply," said Ulrich Weigeldt, chairman of the general practitioners' association, according to dpa.

In his eyes, it therefore makes little sense to open even more vaccination points.

At the beginning of the campaign, the biggest hurdles were the lack of vaccines, unclear responsibilities and poor communication, according to Weigeldt.

But then it would not be expedient if the limited amount of vaccine had to be distributed to more and more places.

Corona: General practitioners doubt the benefits of pharmacy vaccinations

He fears that such a situation will make things more and more confusing for patients: "We will experience that again when a vaccine adapted to Omicron is available," he added.

According to the German Pharmacist Association, around 500 of a total of 18,500 pharmacies are initially involved.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the 7-day incidence nationwide has risen to 1441.0.

In addition, the authority reported 177 further corona-related deaths on February 7th.

In Germany, pharmacies now also offer corona vaccinations.

© Leon Kuegeler/Imago

Lauterbach expresses criticism of Söder's announcement - two federal states abolish the measure

Update from February 7th, 4:56 p.m .:

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) criticized the announcement by the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder * (CSU) that he did not initially want to implement the facility-related corona vaccination requirement.

"The Bavarian state government should also take the law that has been passed seriously," said Lauterbach on Monday.

It is about the protection of patients and home residents, a lax implementation could "endanger life [...]."

Nationwide vaccination campaign in pharmacies starts: Participation initially moderate

Update from February 7, 4:26 p.m .:

A nationwide vaccination campaign in pharmacies against the corona virus begins on Tuesday (February 8), with initially moderate participation.

Around 500 of the approximately 18,500 pharmacies in Germany have been involved right from the start.

This was announced by the ABDA - Federal Union of German Pharmacist Associations on Monday.

The association expects that the number of pharmacies offering vaccinations will gradually increase in the coming weeks.

According to the ABDA, around 6,000 pharmacists have now completed the necessary training.

Just over half qualified, the other facilities had already taken part in the pilot project for flu vaccinations in pharmacies in 2020.

The vaccination license obtained there is now also valid for the Corona vaccination campaign.

From Tuesday, people willing to vaccinate should be able to find participating pharmacies in their area on the online portal

.

Appointments can also be booked there.

The offer includes both first and second as well as booster vaccinations and is intended as a supplement to the vaccination offers in medical practices and vaccination centers.

Corona in Germany: Two federal states want to abolish 2G in retail

Update from February 7th, 3:50 p.m .:

The states of Berlin and Brandenburg want to abolish the 2G rule in retail.

Instead, an obligation to wear an FFP2 mask should apply.

This was announced by representatives of the state governments of both countries on Monday.

The governing Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) said: "The omicron wave requires adapted regulations in many areas." The Berlin Senate is therefore planning to end the 2G rule in retail in the near future.

"We will introduce the FFP2 mask requirement everywhere in retail, as these masks offer the best protection against infection."

She agreed on this regulation with Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD), said Giffey.

The aim is to have a uniform regulation in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region.

In Brandenburg, the night-time exit restriction for unvaccinated people in hotspot regions should also fall.

On the other hand, the 2G Plus rule should be retained in restaurants - it prescribes an additional negative test.

In Brandenburg, it is also planned that the collection of contact details, for example in the catering trade, will be suspended, explained government spokesman Florian Engels.

Corona vaccinations in Germany: the pace is slowing

Update from February 7, 1:42 p.m .:

The corona vaccinations are progressing slowly.

According to the RKI, 45,000 vaccine doses were administered on Sunday.

This means that 61.9 million people or 74.4 percent of the population now have basic protection, which usually requires two injections.

At least 45.2 million people (54.3 percent) now also have a booster vaccination.

A large group of around 20 million people remain unvaccinated.

This corresponds to about 24 percent of the population.

However, no corona vaccine has been approved for four million of them (4.8 percent) because they are four years old or younger.

The RKI has long pointed out that the numbers shown are to be understood as minimum vaccination rates.

A hundred percent coverage by the reporting system cannot be achieved.

The RKI assumes that the actual vaccination rate is up to five percentage points higher than indicated on the dashboard.

Update from February 7, 11:55 a.m .:

Virologist Klaus Stöhr warns of uncontrolled loosening.

But some measures would no longer have anything to do with the numbers in the intensive care units.

He names concrete rules that should be changed now.

Corona in Germany: Gass calls for a “crystal clear” opening strategy

Update from February 7th, 11 a.m.:

The CEO of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gass, has called for clear and reliable opening perspectives in the corona pandemic.

"A crystal-clear strategy is needed that also shows the citizens, the economy, culture and education a perspective for the coming months," said Gass of the

.

Gass went on to say that he considered it necessary to develop these clear opening prospects now.

"But that doesn't mean that openings should take place immediately." There should also be no fixed dates for loosening, which would have to be collected again in the end and lead to disappointment for everyone involved.

Because whether the omicron subtype BA.2, which according to virologist Christian Drosten "already has a few HP more"*, or maybe even a new variant will change the situation again, cannot be seriously answered at the moment.

"There can only be relaxation when the peak of the omicron wave has passed and it becomes clear that the hospitals are no longer threatened with overload," Gass continued.

Gerald Gass, CEO of the German Hospital Society (DKG), calls for a “crystal clear” opening strategy.

(Archive image) © Jens Krick/IMAGO

Corona in Germany: New incidence high

Update from February 7, 6:11 a.m

.: While the 7-day incidence in this country with a value of 1426 with 95,267 new infections and 49 other deaths within 24 hours

has reached another high, the immunologist Carsten Watzl puts it a suggestion.

In an interview with a newspaper, he demands that proven omicron infections be legally equated with a booster vaccination.

"The fact that vaccinated people are not considered boosted after an infection is scientifically untenable," he told the

on Monday.

There is very good data, so a clearly documented infection for each person affected should be equated with a single dose of vaccine.

Immunologist Watzl demands equality of omicron infection with booster

At the same time, the scientist sees no hurry for the majority of the population for renewed boosters with a special Omicron vaccine.

The additional benefit would be that those who were boosted again would be better protected from passing on the virus for a limited time.

"This is certainly recommended if you have a lot of contact with vulnerable groups, such as the nursing staff," says Watzl.

"But in the end it's all about preventing serious illnesses with vaccination.

The three vaccine doses of the previous vaccines are sufficient for this.”

Carsten Watzl (archive image) advocates treating an omicron infection as a booster vaccination.

© Leibniz Institute for Labor Research at the TU Dortmund (IfADo)/dpa

Survey on corona measures: Germans divided on the subject of easing

Update from February 6, 10:15 p.m .:

The politicians’ discussion about possible opening steps in the corona pandemic is picking up speed.

A survey by the Insa Institute for the

shows how divided the Germans are about possible easing: 49 percent of those surveyed were in favor of easing, 44 percent are against it.

The approval of the rules varies greatly: the contact restrictions for vaccinated people met with the greatest rejection.

66 percent of those surveyed would abolish them.

More than half of those surveyed also no longer find the 2G rule in retail to be sensible.

The Germans disagree on the 2G Plus rule: around half of those surveyed want to abolish it, 51 percent think it makes sense.

A clear majority, on the other hand, spoke in favor of the mask requirement: around 71 percent of those surveyed want to keep the mask requirement on public transport, 65 percent are also in favor of a mask requirement in retail.

The contact restrictions for the unvaccinated, which 64 percent think makes sense, also meet with approval.

Despite the high incidence: Hesse relaxes corona measures

Update from February 6, 5:15 p.m .:

Hesse will relax the corona rules from Monday.

Even the unvaccinated will then be able to shop again, because the 2G rule in retail will be overturned.

However, wearing an FFP2 mask is still mandatory.

According to the decision of the Corona cabinet on Friday evening (February 4th), more spectators should be allowed to attend major events in the future.

At major outdoor events, up to 50 percent of the seats can be occupied from Monday - but a maximum of 10,000 spectators are allowed.

Inside, occupancy is limited to a maximum of 30 percent and 4,000 visitors.

However, the 2G Plus rule still applies here.

The current hotspot rule will also be lifted: from Monday, there will no longer be stricter measures in counties or municipalities with a seven-day incidence* of over 350.

In the meantime, 11,796 new corona infections have been registered in Hesse within one day.

Difference between Delta and Omicron?

Lauterbach warns

Update from February 6, 2:20 p.m .:

Omikron is currently responsible for the countless corona cases in Germany.

Minister of Health Lauterbach again warns of the virus mutant on Twitter - and shows data on reinfection.

"It's important not to underestimate Omicron.

Studies suggest that you can get infected again relatively soon after the infection,” writes the SPD politician.

He also mentions an important difference compared to the previous version Delta: "A long protection like Delta is less likely".

Lauterbach ends his post with a warning: "Repeated infections are not without risk."

Karl Lauterbach warns: After an omicron infection, you can get infected again relatively quickly with Corona.

© Screenshot/Twitter

A mini-study with Germans recently showed that Omikron can also circumvent immunity from mRNA vaccines* (examples are Biontech or Moderna).

However, the scientists emphasized that boosters appear to offer “good protection against serious illness” since they only observed mild cases.

Update from February 6, 12:28 p.m .:

Omicron continues to spread rapidly in Germany.

New incidence records are being broken every day.

However, the calls for easing are getting louder and louder.

The hospitality association Dehoga is now also demanding a uniform opening plan for the whole of Germany for the catering trade and other sectors from politicians.

Corona pandemic: Repeal of 2G-Plus rule in gastronomy demanded

"Since it is becoming apparent that Omikron is not overtaxing the healthcare system despite high incidence values, the federal and state governments should quickly agree on a nationwide opening plan, if possible as early as mid-February at their next conference," said managing director Ingrid Hartges of the

.

She advocates lifting the 2G Plus rule in restaurants and cafés.

Corona loosening: "Clubs and discotheques should be opened very soon"

“Clubs and discotheques should also be reopened very soon, because they have only been open for a few weeks since the pandemic began,” Hartges continues.

The closing times in the evening in six federal states should also be abolished immediately.

Original message from February 6th:

Munich – The nationwide 7-day incidence reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI*) has exceeded the threshold of 1400 for the first time.

The RKI gave the value on Sunday morning as 1400.8.

For comparison: On Saturday the value was 1388.0, a week ago it was 1156.8 and in the previous month it was 285.9.

Corona incidence is increasing - more new infections than Sunday a week ago

Within a day, the health authorities reported 133,173 new infections to the RKI.

This is evident from numbers that reflect the status of the RKI dashboard at 5 a.m.

A week ago there were 118,970 infections.

However, experts assume a high and increasing number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data, partly because test capacities and health authorities are at their limit in many places.

According to the information, 41 deaths were recorded within one day.

A week ago there were 59. The RKI has counted 11,022,590 detected infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic.

The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected.

Corona in Germany: hospital value is also increasing

The number of corona-infected patients who came to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was given by the RKI on Friday at 5.45 (Thursday: 5.00).

These may also include people with a positive corona test* who have another main illness.

The RKI gave the number of recovered people on Sunday as 8,058,100.

The number of people who died from or involved a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 rose to 118,717.