Sunday December 12th 2021
Better for virus control
Spiegel hopes for a lot of child vaccinations
In the new week, the corona vaccine will be delivered to children under 12 years of age. Family Minister Spiegel hopes that parents who want to be vaccinated will then be able to easily get appointments.
Federal Family Minister Anne Spiegel has called for vaccinations for 5 to 11 year old children to be made easier. All over the country child-friendly vaccination offers are required: “in pediatric practices, vaccination centers and with mobile vaccination teams,” said the Green politician in the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Spiegel said the start of child vaccinations this Monday was a good signal. “This is a great relief for many 5 to 11-year-old children and their families,” said the minister. “It is very important that families can get good information and advice and then hopefully come to the conclusion that their children should be vaccinated. The STIKO recommendation provides an orientation for this.”
This week, the STIKO recommended that previously ill children between the ages of five and eleven be vaccinated against corona. Children without previous illnesses should also be able to be vaccinated if they so wish.
“Anchor of stability”
Spiegel pointed out that the coronavirus is now again affecting a particularly large number of young people and emphasized: “Quarantine for children not only means learning backlogs, but in particular the lack of a regular daily structure and a lack of contact with their peers.” Schools and daycare centers are not just places of learning, “they are anchors of stability in the lives of young people who absolutely need them”. Especially with a view to protecting children and young people, the following applies: the more people in all generations are vaccinated, “the better we can fight the virus”.
Current figures from the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) showed a further increase in corona infections in schools this week. One in 40 students was recently directly or indirectly affected by Corona, either through their own infection or through quarantine measures.
Deliveries of the vaccine to children are slated to begin next week. 2.4 million cans are expected in a first delivery in Germany. The former Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn said in November that this will enable the initial demand to be answered well for around 4.5 million children in this age group.