"There we are burned children": Vaccination center is waiting to make an appointment for a new vaccine - it's not there yet

Created: 02/23/2022, 06:25

By: Sebastian Tauchnitz

The new vaccine "Novavax" should be available nationwide in the next few days.

Second vaccination is still necessary © AFP/ARCHIVE

After massive delivery delays, the new Novavax vaccine is now to be delivered in Germany.

In the Peißenberg vaccination center, appointments are still being held.

District

– The interest of the population is great in the new vaccine, which was not developed on an mRNA basis but on a protein basis, according to the head of the Peissenberger vaccination center, Christian Achmüller, in an interview with the local newspaper.

Hardly a day goes by without people asking questions on the hotline.

So far, however, no waiting list has been introduced and no appointments have been made for Novavax vaccinations.

"We're burned children - appointments will only be made when we have the vaccine."

Achmüller has ordered a total of 2,300 cans of Novavax – the maximum permitted amount at the moment.

You then have to see how much is delivered, he says.

But it is certain that the resident doctors from this contingent should also be supplied by the vaccination center.

In addition, half of the vaccine doses for the second vaccinations, which are due in three weeks, must be withheld.

"The people responsible probably also lack the confidence that further deliveries will arrive in good time."

Novavax: Preferential treatment for medical staff

In the case of corona vaccinations with Novavax, the staff of hospitals, nursing homes and medical practices are given preferential treatment, Achmüller continues.

The reason is obvious: From March 15th, the facility-related vaccination obligation will apply, and anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination protection and works in a healthcare profession may no longer be admitted according to federal law.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder has meanwhile announced that the facility-related vaccination requirement in the Free State should not be implemented - the last word in the dispute with Berlin has not yet been spoken.

To be on the safe side, Achmüller therefore anticipates a great need for Novavax vaccinations.

Corona: So far manageable demand for a fourth vaccination for people over 70

However, the need for the four vaccinations has so far been manageable.

Weeks ago, the Standing Vaccination Commission recommended that everyone over 70 whose booster vaccination was at least three months ago should receive another booster vaccination.

Medical staff should also receive the fourth injection – but only six months after the booster vaccination.

According to Achmüller, that would probably be the case for most people in April: “We are preparing for it.” Among the over-70s, interest in the fourth vaccination is probably also restrained because Biontech is launching a new version of its vaccine for March/April have announced, which is intended to provide better protection against the currently predominant omicron variant of the corona virus.

"A lot of people are waiting."

The vaccination center is currently operational despite the very high number of new infections.

Sure, "we also had individual absences from employees who had to go into quarantine," says Achmüller.

"But on the whole, our hygiene concept is working well."

Many appointments are canceled because people fall ill with Corona

In any case, the rush in the vaccination center is “manageable” at the moment, its manager continues.

Many appointments are canceled because the people who actually wanted to be vaccinated are suffering from Corona.

"It really cuts across all age groups," says Christian Achmüller.

He made it clear once again that the judgments, according to which a dose of "Johnson & Johnson" is sufficient for complete vaccination protection, "are all individual case decisions".

It therefore still applies: If you don't want to start your own legal dispute, you have to be vaccinated again with another vaccine after a dose of Johnson & Johnson in order to be fully vaccinated.

“However, we no longer order Johnson & Johnson because hardly anyone wanted it.

We threw away more than we could vaccinate in the end.”

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