Coronavirus Germany: Federal and state health ministers have recommended COVID-19 vaccine shots for at-risk and elderly citizens, they also approved plans to vaccinate teens.
German health ministers on Monday approved a plan to begin administering coronavirus vaccine booster shots to the elderly and at-risk citizens beginning September 1st.
This is an effective decision in the government’s aim to curb the delta variant as it continues to spread rapidly and strangles the efficiency of the vaccine.
German media DW reported that, ”Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn and the country’s 16 state health ministers also voted to recommend vaccinating all 12-17 year olds, a move that exceeds guidelines set out by the country’s vaccine regulator STIKO.”
“We have enough vaccine for all. That’s why it’s good that the states also want to make vaccines easily available to this age group” said Spahn.
Should the vaccine be administered to children?
The decision to vaccinate children is not one everyone is on board with as the recommendation goes against existing advisory guidelines set out by Germany’s permanent vaccine commission (STIKO).
The commission currently only advocates administering vaccinations to 12-17 year olds with certain pre-existing conditions, not blanket inoculation.
Some politicians point out that the time to be vaccinated is now and that the country should not ‘waste time’ said Bavarian State Health Minster Klaus Holetschek.
Source: AFP, dpa, DW