WWhilst the corona numbers in Germany continue to rise – on Sunday the seven-day incidence with a value of 806.8 exceeded the threshold of 800 for the first time – the introduction of compulsory vaccination for nursing and hospital staff is being debated. As the “Tagesspiegel” learned from government and state circles, several federal states are apparently insisting on a postponement. Instead, one should first wait for the introduction of the new inactivated vaccine from the manufacturer Novavax, according to the “Tagesspiegel” in an East German state chancellery.
On Saturday, the federal and state health ministers proposed that employees in the health sector and in care should be able to receive the Novavax vaccine “preferred”. The protein-based vaccine is a method that has long been known and used in the fight against other diseases. Therefore, the vaccine could also be of interest to people who have reservations about the new technologies of mRNA and vector vaccines.
Too many nurses are skeptical and can no longer come to work because of the obligation to vaccinate – the new vaccine could find more acceptance than the previous ones based on mRNA. The first shipment of 1.75 million doses is said to be available from February 21, but two shots could delay launch by several weeks.
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder had also called for an adjustment in conversation with the FAS. “It would have been better to make vaccination compulsory for everyone from the outset, instead of just for individual groups. The premature introduction in the nursing and hospital sector can lead to a loss of nursing capacity. That’s why you should check a single date for everyone again,” he says.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection also called for reconsideration of the institution-related vaccination requirement. If up to ten percent of the staff leave the profession, then 200,000 people in need of care and sick people could no longer be professionally supported and cared for, said board member Eugen Brysch on Sunday. “Employees can change jobs. However, those in need of help cannot get out of the supply trap.”
The corona numbers in Germany have meanwhile reached a new high. The seven-day incidence of new infections has exceeded the threshold of 800 for the first time. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave it 806.8 on Sunday morning. The previous day the incidence was 772.7, a week ago it was 515.7. The health authorities reported 85,440 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. In view of the rapid spread of the omicron variant, the Federal Government’s Expert Council calls for preparations for further steps. The federal and state governments want to discuss the further strategy this Monday.
Expert council fears further increase
Experts expect that more and more infections cannot be detected, partly because test capacities and health authorities are increasingly at the limit. In hospitals and other areas of critical infrastructure, there is already a risk of significant staff shortages due to high levels of sick leave and quarantine, and some of these have already occurred. Omicron is considered to be particularly contagious, but according to many experts, the course of the disease is milder.
The prime ministers of the federal states want to discuss further steps with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) this Monday. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has repeatedly spoken out in favor of maintaining the existing measures. The Federal Government’s Council of Experts supports this line, but advocates arming yourself for a further increase in the number of infections.