Seibert: ‘The situation in hospitals is worse, where the vaccination rate is lower’

Government spokesman Stephen Seibert conveyed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s concern about the pandemic and called on everyone to “do what is necessary” to bring it under control. He also noted that “the situation is worse where the vaccination rate is lower” and warned that the more hospitals are burdened, the greater the possibility of postponing scheduled surgeries. Social Democrat (SPD) spokesman Karl Lauterbach warned of a “monster wave” and called for immediate restrictions on those who are not vaccinated.

“There is a clear link” between vaccination rates and hospital admissions, Seibert said, adding that the vast majority of those who are seriously ill with coronavirus and are being treated in an intensive care unit have not been vaccinated. “It remains true that full vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of such a serious development,” he said, adding that for the chancellor, priority was given to the elderly and people in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. “At least for those who have not been vaccinated in these areas, there should be a requirement for a daily diagnostic test,” he added.

Referring to the booster vaccine, Mr. Seibert called for more speed on the part of the states, stressing that this is something that the federal government cannot undertake. “Everything must be done now to get the boot vaccine on as soon as possible, especially for people over the age of 70 – that is, 15, 16 million people in Germany – but not just for them. For everyone, in general,” the government spokesman said. and referred to the example of Israel. “The rapid increase in the number of patients in hospitals and especially in the ICU shows that once the new wave of the pandemic arrives things can develop very quickly and then we find ourselves again in a situation where regular surgery should be postponed – and this can to influence anyone, even if they do not have a coronavirus, “said Stephen Seibert, urging citizens to” take seriously the warnings of doctors and nurses who fight each patient individually. ” “We have good rules, but they only make sense if they are followed and controlled,” he said.

On the other hand, the SPD spokesman for health issues and candidate for the post of Minister of Health in the next government Karl Lauterbach pointed out that the number of serious cases of Covid-19 is increasing even among those who have been vaccinated. “We have a wave in front of us, if we do not apply the 2G rule at the national level (for access to facilities and services only for vaccinated and sick people), with controls, he said. The 2G rule is not directed against the non-vaccinated, but is for the benefit of all, “said Lauterbach, a professor of microbiology. Today, he transferred to his personal Twitter account the post of the professor of hematology at the University Hospital of Cologne, Michael Halek, who publishes a chest X-ray of an intubated 38-year-old unvaccinated, without underlying disease. “Survival chances are limited. Misinformation can be fatal,” he said.

According to a poll by the YouGov Institute on behalf of the financial newspaper Handelsblatt, about two out of three Germans are in favor of the general application of the 2G rule in the whole spectrum of public life, while 27% are against such a choice. However, the 2G rule applies from today in Saxony, by decision of the local government. Demand for vaccination has already increased in the state. Indicatively, on Saturday, instead of the planned 3000 vaccinations, 4500 were finally performed, while the Minister of Health Petra Keping stated that the supply will be doubled. Similarly in Austria, which also follows the 2G rule from today, there is an “explosion” in the arrival of citizens for vaccination. 34,500 doses of vaccine were given on Saturday and 19,000 doses on Sunday, despite the fact that many vaccination centers were closed. Similarly, the demand for vaccination has increased in Saxony.

The Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko), meanwhile, referring to booster vaccination, stressed earlier tonight that “for immunological and epidemiological reasons, it makes sense to offer booster vaccination to susceptible individuals and, in the medium term, to all primary immunized individuals.” Stiko had initially recommended booster vaccination only for people over the age of 70 and vulnerable groups and special categories of professionals, causing confusion, as Health Minister Jens Spann announced that the booster dose was available to anyone over the age of six. months after the basic vaccination.

Stiko, however, called on unvaccinated citizens to do so “urgently”, stressing that “the number of cases is 10 times higher among the unvaccinated than among the vaccinated. Similarly, there are many unvaccinated and immunocompromised among patients with Covid-19 admitted to the ICU “. Vaccination “serves self-protection but also the protection of others”, Stiko concludes.

Source: AMPE