Saturday 20th November 2021
“Torpedoed Booster Offensive”
Spahn’s Biontech lid causes displeasure
With up to 25 million administered booster syringes by Christmas, the federal government wants to slow down the fourth wave. The fact that Health Minister Spahn is now limiting the orders of Biontech cans for doctors is more than unfortunate for patient advocates and health politicians.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection has accused Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn of hindering the planned start-up of booster vaccinations in the Corona crisis. The background to this is an announcement by the Spahn Ministry that the so-called booster vaccinations are to be carried out more with the vaccine from Moderna instead of Biontech.
“While the incumbent Chancellor, the heads of government of the federal states and the Bundestag are calling for the big booster offensive, Jens Spahn is torpedoing the project,” said the association’s board of directors, Eugen Brysch. “Because obviously there are not enough freely selectable vaccines for people who want to vaccinate. In practice, the supply is slowed down.”
The Ministry of Health has set a target of 20 to 25 million booster vaccinations by the end of the year. A report by the ministry said in the middle of the week that in view of the rapidly increasing demand in the coming weeks, in addition to the preparation from Biontech, more vaccines from Moderna should be used again.
Doctors fear an increased need for advice
The Federal Ministry of Health emphasized on Friday that enough vaccine would be available for such boosters by the end of the year. Since the Biontech preparation has so far made up more than 90 percent of orders, Moderna should be used more and more. This should ensure that sufficient vaccine is available in the short term. In addition, stored Moderna cans expired from the middle of the first quarter of 2022, but this must be avoided.
For Biontech, “maximum order quantities” are to be defined, as it says in the letter. For the time being, practices should be able to order a maximum of 30 doses per week, vaccination centers and mobile vaccination teams 1020 doses. It is emphasized: “Orders for Moderna vaccine are not subject to a maximum limit and fully supplied.”
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) stated after the announcement that, due to the limitation on Biontech orders from November 23, a significantly increased need for advice can be expected in the practices. According to available study data and according to the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), both vaccines are equivalent. “Nevertheless, there will be a great need for explanation, which ties up valuable time that is then missing for vaccination,” said KBV vice-chairman Stephan Hofmeister.
Holetschek: “That has to be discussed and resolved”
The Green health expert Janosch Dahmen wrote in the evening on Twitter about the project: “We shouldn’t do that! We need anything but a handbrake when vaccinating. The Biontech vaccine is particularly well tolerated by young people. Also the choice between different ones Vaccines play a role in the decision for the important primary vaccination. ”
FDP parliamentary group vice Michael Theurer said: “That must be a bad joke.” Lots of vaccinations are needed to ensure the booster effect in the short term and to increase the vaccination rate. “Defining maximum quantities here is absolutely counterproductive and sends a completely wrong signal. Everything that can be inoculated has to be inoculated.”
Bavaria’s Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek protests against the limitation of Biontech deliveries. That was unacceptable, said the CSU politician. Holetschek, who is also chairman of the conference of health ministers of the federal states, now wants to put this on the agenda of the deliberations planned for Monday. “That has to be discussed and resolved.”
The federal and state governments have jointly determined that a large, joint effort is now required to vaccinate, said Holetschek. “All federal states will tackle this with all their might.” First and second vaccinations are important, but especially the booster vaccinations. If one now hears that the Biontech vaccine should be restricted, it is “absolutely unacceptable and destroys the necessary trust that the citizens must have in us in this highly dramatic situation”. This is not only unacceptable for the vaccination centers, but above all for the medical profession, who have geared all planning towards it.