In view of the worsening corona situation, the federal and state health ministers have spoken out in favor of booster vaccinations for all age groups. “Boosters after six months should become the rule, not the exception,” said the acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) on Friday after two days of consultations in Lindau.
Especially the elderly, people with previous illnesses and medical staff should receive the booster vaccinations. Basically, so-called booster vaccinations should be “possible for everyone” after six months, said Bavaria’s Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU), who chairs the conference of health ministers.
Spahn called it an “important signal” that the medical profession as well as the federal and state governments are united on this issue. At the same time he called for “more speed with booster vaccinations”. There is agreement that in addition to the doctor’s offices, public bodies for vaccination offers are also needed, such as vaccination centers or vaccination buses. It is about “breaking this wave,” stressed Spahn.
Burden on hospitals “very worrying”
In the increasingly tense pandemic situation, the managing German federal government has called for caution and consistent controls of corona access rules.
Everyone should do their utmost to ensure that winter does not bring unnecessary suffering, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Friday in Berlin. The development with a sudden increase in the number of cases and an escalation in the hospital burden in some regions is “very worrying”. Seibert again called for more vaccinations, booster vaccinations and test specifications in nursing homes.
Not a phase when there is no government
Whether there will be a corona meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Prime Minister remains open. The government spokesman did not announce an appointment for Merkel for the coming week. In view of the current transition to a new coalition, Seibert fundamentally emphasized “that we are not in a phase in which we have no government”.
According to her oath of office, Merkel will “work to avert harm to the German people until the last day of her term of office”. (AFP / SDA)