Vaccine shortage expected: Berlin and Brandenburg fear dampers for vaccination campaigns
Expected vaccine deficiency
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Berlin and Brandenburg fear dampers for vaccination campaigns
Federal Health Minister Lauterbach warns: There will not be enough Corana vaccine in the first quarter of 2022. Berlin and Brandenburg fear a damper for their vaccination campaigns, which are currently “unbelievable speed”.
Berlin and Brandenburg fear that the expected vaccine shortage will also affect the vaccination campaign in the two federal states.
The Berlin Senator for Health Dilek Kalayci is concerned about the speed of vaccinations in Berlin in view of the impending shortage of corona vaccines. Now you have to reorder quickly, said the outgoing senator on Wednesday. The Berlin vaccination rate should not be slowed down. Last week there was a record with a good 262,000 vaccinations, according to Kalayci. That is at risk if there is a shortage of vaccines.
The Brandenburg Minister of Health Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) expects the vaccine doses to become scarcer between Christmas and New Year. Two deliveries of the Biontech vaccine, which were intended for the last two December weekends, have already been used for reinforcement, she told rbb on Wednesday. SHE expects, however, in its own words, that less vaccinations will be given on the holidays than is currently the case. At the same time, she promised that Brandenburg would continue with the vaccination campaign, which was just “picking up incredible speed”.
Lauterbach: Vaccine shortage in the first quarter of 2022
A corona vaccine inventory has, according to the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach reported a shortage for the first quarter of 2022 [tagesschau.de] . This surprised many. “Me too,” said the SPD politician on Tuesday evening in the ARD “Tagesthemen”. He did not provide any specific information on how big the gap is. According to Lauterbach, he is already working on eliminating the deficiency.
Lauterbach is in contact with other European countries and vaccine producers to get additional doses. “And I think that’s urgently needed, we have to boost, boost, boost,” said Nonnemacher.
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians sees the aim of the vaccination campaign in danger
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) is skeptical in view of the warning from the Federal Minister of Health that the target of 30 corona vaccinations can be met by the end of the year.
KBV boss Andreas Gassen said on rbb’s Inforadio on Wednesday that the latest reports of a vaccine deficiency were not a good signal. He reckons that the missing vaccine will be felt between Christmas and New Year. With the promised deliveries, the high pace of the booster campaign cannot be maintained.
Virologist Stöhr with foresight
In contrast, the virologist Klaus Stöhr said that the shortage of corona vaccine in Germany can be made up by the beginning of next year. In his own words, Stör assumes that vaccination doses could be “obtained” from other European countries. “There are compensation options, because the vaccination campaign is stalling in other countries,” said Stöhr on Wednesday in the rbb’s Inforadio. “Then there are definitely reserves from the vaccine manufacturers.”
At the same time, Stöhr warned not to let up in the booster campaign: “Now you have to think in the short term. As many people as possible should be boosted by the end of the year, and then it may no longer be as relevant how much vaccine is is still available thereafter. “
Vaccination campaign central component against fourth wave and Omikron
Lauterbach had announced after taking office that he would get an overview of the vaccine quantities in stock. The federal government is promoting a major vaccination campaign as a central component in the fight against pandemics. In addition to the massive fourth wave, this is also due to the spreading, highly infectious omicron variant.
Broadcast: Inforadio, December 15, 2021, 7:40 a.m.
