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Corona test center in Rostock (archive picture)
Photo: Bernd Wüstneck / dpa
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Vaccination against Covid-19: Rush at pediatricians
4:05 a.m.:
After the vote of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) for a vaccination against Covid-19 for all children and adolescents from the age of 12, the demand has skyrocketed nationwide. "It started immediately on Monday," said Jakob Maske, spokesman for the professional association of paediatricians. The rush is great, but there is generally enough vaccine. Bottlenecks are not to be expected. Because of the reorders in the practices, vaccination appointments could sometimes take up to two weeks at the moment.
According to Stiko, there are around 4.5 million 12 to 17 year olds in Germany.
According to calculations by the Robert Koch Institute, around a quarter of them have already been vaccinated against Corona at least once.
The vaccines from Biontech and Moderna are approved from the age of 12.
The pediatricians cannot yet predict how high the vaccination rate will be for the youngest age group.
Drosten: Most of them do not need a booster vaccination in autumn
03.15 a.m.:
According to the virologist Christian Drosten, no booster vaccination against Sars-CoV-2 will be necessary in autumn for the majority of those vaccinated. "The protective effect of the corona vaccines is much better than, for example, the influenza vaccines," he told the German Press Agency in Berlin. Drosten does not expect a new virus variant that is resistant to the available vaccines to appear anytime soon.
For old people and certain high-risk patients, Drosten believes that a booster vaccination this autumn makes sense.
"After six months, the antibody level acquired through the vaccination goes down significantly, especially in very old people." In special situations such as retirement homes, a refreshment is therefore conceivable.
In terms of numbers, this would hardly conflict with the international shortage of vaccines.
For the rest of the population, an age level may be defined at some point, from which a booster vaccination would make sense.
"This autumn, however, it is important to first close the vaccination gaps among those over 60 years of age."
The US government announced on Wednesday that it would probably provide the entire American population with booster vaccinations against the corona virus from September.
New South Wales reports another record number of new infections
3:05 a.m.:
Large parts of the Australian state of New South Wales have been in lockdown for weeks.
But the corona infections continue to increase: On Wednesday, the authorities reported 681 new cases - more than ever before in the pandemic.
Only the day before, the authorities in NSW had reported a daily record with 633 cases.
The metropolis of Sydney, which is located in the state, is particularly affected.
Biden
promotes mandatory vaccination and defends booster vaccinations
1:35 a.m.:
US President Joe Biden has very clearly promoted compulsory corona vaccination in companies and urged employers to act. “Vaccination regulations have been in place for decades. Students, health professionals, our troops - they usually need to be vaccinated against everything from polio to smallpox to measles, mumps and rubella, ”Biden said. "It only makes sense to prescribe a vaccination that prevents the spread of Covid-19."
Employers have more power than ever to put an end to this pandemic, Biden said.
"My message is simple: Do the right thing for your employees, customers and your company." The US government has already obliged its own employees to be vaccinated or at least regularly tested for corona infection.
The soldiers of the US armed forces are also to be vaccinated by September 15 at the latest.
Biden also defended the booster vaccination plan against the coronavirus.
“I know there are some world leaders who say America shouldn't get a third vaccination until other countries get their first vaccination.
I disagree, ”he said.
"We can take care of America and help the world at the same time."
The US government had previously announced that it was expected to provide the American population with booster vaccinations against the coronavirus from September.
American adults should be able to get a third dose eight months after completing their first two vaccinations with the preparations from Moderna or Pfizer / Biontech.
The booster vaccinations are scheduled to start at the end of September.
The WHO had already called for a temporary stop of such vaccinations at the beginning of August, as long as many poorer countries are still waiting for vaccination doses.
aar / dpa / AFP / Reuters